The increased frequency and size of rockets like Starship are prompting discussions on how to adapt air traffic management, drawing parallels to historical challenges during Mercury and Apollo missions.

SpaceX plans to significantly increase its rocket launch activity from Florida, with up to 120 Starship launches annually, which could cause major disruptions to air traffic due to safety and hazard zone concerns.

This surge in launch activity is expected to dramatically alter airspace management, leading to increased delays and the need for careful planning and regulation.

SpaceX contends that the hazard zones proposed are overly conservative, and based on data from previous Falcon 9 launches, these zones will be smaller and shorter in duration, with significant reductions since 2022.

The FAA and airlines have expressed concerns about managing potential rocket anomalies and ensuring air traffic control safety, especially following a recent Starship test incident that resulted in a ground stop.

Experts and officials recognize the importance of balancing space launch growth with aviation safety, emphasizing collaboration among SpaceX, federal agencies, and airlines to develop safe procedures.

The Air Line Pilots Association has raised concerns about pilots' ability to respond to unexpected events during launches and has called for comprehensive, timely air traffic control information.

Congressional representatives and industry stakeholders stress the importance of transparency and safety as Florida prepares for a potential surge to nearly 400 rocket launches annually by the end of the decade, involving multiple providers.

The larger size of Starship and its return landings will necessitate extensive airspace closures, potentially impacting between 8,800 and 13,200 flights each year, especially flights into Florida airports such as Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.

SpaceX has already conducted 10 suborbital test launches from Texas and plans to expand operations to Florida by establishing a new $1.8 billion manufacturing and launch infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center.

Studies by the FAA and the Department of the Air Force highlight potential conflicts with flight operations due to hazard zones, which could impact hundreds of aircraft, but SpaceX argues these zones are highly conservative and will be smaller in practice.

Florida airports, including Orlando International, are closely monitoring the situation and emphasizing the need for coordination with FAA and space operators to mitigate delays and ensure safety, especially after recent ground stops following test mishaps.