Tag: FAA
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FCC Proposes Auction of 160 MHz in Upper C-Band Spectrum
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is preparing to vote on a proposal to auction 160 megahertz (MHz) of upper C-band spectrum, a move that would require satellite operators to clear frequencies by deploying new satellites and upgrading ground infrastructure. The proposal covers spectrum between 3.98 GHz and 4.14 GHz and is scheduled for a…
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SpaceX tests upcoming Starfall reentry vehicle with demonstration mission on Tuesday
Early Tuesday morning, SpaceX launched a demonstration mission for its Starfall reentry vehicle. Falcon 9 lifted off at 6:53 AM EDT (10:53 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Weather was 95% “go” for launch, with the only concerns being the cumulus cloud rule. Riding within…
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FAA Grounds Starship After Latest Test Flight Anomaly
What caused the FAA to ground SpaceX’s Starship program? The Federal Aviation Administration has halted all Starship operations following an undisclosed anomaly during SpaceX’s latest test flight, marking the second regulatory investigation of the 400-foot super heavy-lift vehicle this year. The grounding immediately suspends SpaceX’s ambitious launch cadence targeting 25 Starship flights in 2026, potentially…
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FAA requires SpaceX-led mishap investigation before resumption of Starship launches
A closeup shot of SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster, tail number Booster 19, during the initial moments of ascent on the Starship Flight 12 mission on May 22, 2026. Image: SpaceX FAA requires SpaceX-led mishap investigation before resumption of Starship launches The Federal Aviation Administration made the determination after analyzing the results of Starship Flight 12,…
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FAA advances approval for up to 44 Starship launches from 39A
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reached a critical milestone in its environmental review process for SpaceX’s Starship operations at Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) on NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The summary overview, released on Friday, is ahead of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), anticipated for release imminently, following the Draft EIS issued in…
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FAA Warns Airlines to Plan for Rising Risks From Space Launch Debris
Commercial airlines should plan for an increased risk from space launch and reentry activity, including rare but potentially serious debris events, the Federal Aviation Administration said in guidance issued earlier this month, as the pace of spaceflight accelerates. In a Safety Alert for Operators, SAFO 26001, the FAA advised carriers and flight crews to prepare…
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U.S. FAA Lifts Temporary Restrictions on Commercial Rocket Launches After Government Reopens
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted temporary restrictions that had limited commercial rocket launches to nighttime hours, easing constraints on companies such as SpaceX following the end of the federal government shutdown. The order, issued on Nov. 10, was designed to reduce workload for air traffic controllers during the shutdown by avoiding daytime…
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FAA Limits Rocket Launches Amid Government Shutdown, Citing Strain on Air Traffic Control
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed temporary restrictions on commercial space launches and landings, allowing them only between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., as the ongoing government shutdown strains the nation’s air traffic control system. According to an emergency order issued by the FAA, the measures are intended to ensure safety as reduced staffing…
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Department of the Air Force, FAA clear SpaceX to launch up to 120 Falcon 9 rockets annually from Cape Canaveral
A SpaceX Crew Dragon atop a Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) for the first time on the Crew-9 mission. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of the Air Force gave the green light for SpaceX to more than double its launch cadence from its…
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FAA caused Falcon 9 TRACERS launch scrub
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has noted that it was responsible for the scrub of a SpaceX launch at the Vandenberg Space Force Base on Tuesday. SpaceX was gearing up to launch TRACERS, NASA’s latest mission to study solar wind and how it impacts Earth, with liftoff set to occur at SLC-4E at Vandenberg, with…