**FAA Restricts Commercial Space Launches to Overnight Hours Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown**

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new order temporarily restricting commercial space activities to overnight hours in response to the ongoing government shutdown, now well into its second month. Under this directive, private rocket launches and reentries will only be permitted between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time, starting Monday. This measure aims to “ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficiency of the National Airspace System” as federal staffing challenges persist.

Since the U.S. government shutdown began on October 1, following Congress’s failure to pass appropriations legislation for 2026, federal workers such as air traffic controllers have been working without pay. This includes managing complex coordination required for spaceflight operations, which adds another layer of responsibility for already strained staff.

Major launch providers—such as SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin—are likely to be affected by the new guidelines. SpaceX has already launched over 100 rockets this year, and timing is often critical for space-based missions. Restricting launches to overnight windows could result in delays, increased costs, and may even cause some payloads to miss their optimal launch opportunities.

**Crowded Airspace and Coordination Challenges**

Airlines have been forced to share increasingly crowded airspace with the booming rocket industry. Each launch and reentry requires temporary closures of affected airspace, sometimes causing flights to be rerouted or delayed. To address these challenges, the FAA is working on new approaches to improve air traffic management and coordination between the industries.

Earlier this year, a budget reconciliation bill proposed requiring rocket companies to pay licensing fees to the FAA starting next year. Currently, private rocket companies such as SpaceX pay small fees to cover the application process for launch and reentry licenses. In exchange, the FAA ensures that airspace is cleared of flights during rocket launches and along reentry paths. The FAA initially waived fees for space companies to help the industry grow in its early years, but with the volume of launches on the rise, that is changing.

Airlines, meanwhile, have long paid fees to the FAA, which go into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund—an account that makes up nearly half of the FAA’s annual budget.

**Safety Concerns Amid Staffing Shortages**

According to the FAA, the new order is intended “to address safety risks and delays presented by air traffic controller staffing constraints.” Due to the ongoing shutdown, air traffic controllers have been working without pay since October 3, raising concerns about safety and the ability to maintain normal operations across the aviation and spaceflight sectors.

At this time, it is unclear how long the FAA’s order will remain in effect or the full extent of its impact on private spaceflight operations. However, the restriction of launches to overnight hours could dramatically affect the scheduling and success of future space missions as the shutdown continues.
https://gizmodo.com/government-shutdown-grounds-daytime-launches-for-spacex-and-other-private-space-companies-2000683084