The wild west of private spaceflight just got a hint of order as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) placed new restrictions on when commercial missions can launch and reenter through Earth’s atmosphere.

The FAA issued a new order to temporarily restrict commercial space activities during peak hours for the navigable airspace, permitting private launches and reentries only between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time. The order, which goes into effect on Monday, is to “ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficiency of the National Airspace System,” as the government shutdown continues well into its second month.

Since the U.S. government shutdown began on October 1 due to a congressional failure to pass appropriations legislation for 2026, federal workers such as air traf

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