NASA News National Aeronautics and Space Administration John F. Kennedy Space Center Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899 AC 321 867-2468 ____________________________________________________________________________ For Release: Joel Wells April 13, 2001 NASA, Kennedy Space Center (321) 867-2468 Kathleen Bergen Federal Aviation Administration 404 305-5100 Ken Warren Air Force, 45th Space Wing (321) 494-7731 KSC Release No. 45-01 AIRSPACE, BRIDGES AND WATERWAY RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT FOR ALL SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCHES With the STS-100 launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour only days away, NASA managers urge all aircraft pilots and boaters to comply fully with the airspace, bridges and waterway restrictions imposed around KSC during all Shuttle launches and landings. "As always, we are coordinating with officials from the Eastern Range and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help provide a safe launch environment for the Shuttle crew and for interested spectators. Violating these restrictions is not only unsafe for the astronauts and support crews, it's unsafe for the violator," said KSC Launch Director Mike Leinbach. Space Shuttle Endeavour's first launch opportunity is on April 19 at 2:41 p.m. EDT and the launch window extends for less than five minutes. At NASA's request, FAA surveillance aircraft will patrol KSC's airspace boundaries on launch day. Violators will be intercepted by patrol forces, thoroughly investigated and will be subject to FAA enforcement action. A number of restrictions are placed in effect around the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) during the hours immediately preceding and following the launch of a Space Shuttle. Listed and described below are restrictions that apply to pilots, motor vehicle operators and boaters utilizing airspace, bridges and waterways that lead to KSC. KSC AREA AVIATION RESTRICTIONS The airspace immediately above and around KSC will be limited to official aircraft only and will be off-limits to general aviation pilots prior to and during the launch of a Space Shuttle. NOTAMS must be checked by pilots prior to flights near the KSC area. Pilots are warned that a violation of KSC's restricted airspace may likely result in serious penalties, including the suspension or revocation of pilot privileges. Official aircraft supporting the launch will be in the air. Private pilots must be aware that wandering into a restricted area is not only forbidden, but that it also creates a safety hazard to support aircraft and the errant pilot. Anyone wishing to view the launch from the air below 11,000 feet should stay west of the Indian River. Above 11,000 feet, pilots should stay west of the St. Johns River. Pilots are advised that the airspace in the KSC vicinity is expected to be congested with both controlled and uncontrolled aircraft. Pilots should also be aware of the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) exhaust cloud that occurs after launch. They should stay at least five miles away from the cloud, even if it drifts out of the restricted area. Generally, the airspace restrictions cover a variety of air ranges. In addition to the usual KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station airspace restrictions, the upcoming launch requires that all private aircraft stay out of an area roughly bounded by the west side of the Indian River to the west, the Trident Basin (Port Canaveral) to the south, 10 miles north of Haulover Canal at the Oak Hill, Fla., city limit and a minimum of 50 miles seaward to the east. These restrictions are "surface to unlimited." Launch-specific restrictions begin three hours prior to the planned launch time. Pilots should consult the most recent editions of the Jacksonville Sectional Aeronautical Chart and the Airman's Information Manual. In addition, they should contact the St. Petersburg Flight Service Station at 1-800-992-7433 (1-800-WX-BRIEF). Advisories will be available from the Space Center Executive Airport Tower (VHF 118.9 megahertz) or the NASA Tower (128.55 megahertz). Pilots should also refer to the current Patrick Air Force Base news release concerning restricted airspace. BRIDGES CONTROLLED FOR LAUNCH The opening and closing of bridges over waterways surrounding KSC will be strictly controlled during the hours immediately before and after the launch period for each Space Shuttle mission. Bridges affected by the launch include: * Canaveral Harbor Barge Canal (SR 401, south of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Gate 1); * Indian River Causeway West or NASA Causeway (Intracoastal Waterway at Addison Point); * Merritt Island Barge Canal (Merritt Island State Road 3); * Haulover Canal Bridge (State Road 3, north of KSC). Restraints on bridge openings for boat traffic begin three hours before launch. The bridges may be opened for five minutes at the following points in the launch countdown: T-180 minutes, T-150 minutes, T-120 minutes, T-90 minutes, and T-65 minutes. Adding 20 minutes to these times and subtracting that amount from the launch time will result in an approximate time of openings. Bridges will remain closed to boat traffic until 90 minutes after lift-off (T+90). They may then open for five minutes at T+90, T+120 minutes and T+150 minutes. Bridge operations will return to normal three hours (T+180 minutes) after launch. Should the Shuttle be required to perform a Return-to-Launch-Site (RTLS) landing at KSC, all bridges would remain closed to boat traffic from 45 minutes before landing until at least one hour after landing. KSC AREA BOATING RESTRICTIONS Waterways and boating near the Kennedy Space Center will be strictly controlled prior to and during the launch of the Space Shuttle. Safety and security requirements, including U.S. Air Force range safety impact limit lines, will go into effect as early as three days before launch. Other requirements will be phased into effect through sunset the night before launch. A general description of the area follows: BANANA RIVER: Security limits begin at the Banana River Barge Canal south of KSC at the State Road 528 crossing and extend north. This restriction is effective roughly 12 hours prior to launch. ATLANTIC OCEAN: Beginning the day before launch, a general exclusion zone will be in effect three miles offshore from the Haulover Canal, near the north end of KSC, and southward to Port Canaveral. Four hours prior to launch, all ocean-going traffic will be restricted from entering an area measured from five miles north and south of the launch pad and extending 30 miles east into the ocean. An additional three-mile-wide exclusion zone will be extended eastward along the projected flight path of the Space Shuttle. MOSQUITO LAGOON: This area south of the Haulover Canal is off limits to all boats beginning the day before launch. INDIAN RIVER: Restrictions apply from the NASA Causeway north to the Haulover Canal and east of the Indian River's main channel. Restrictions begin the day before launch. All boating restrictions will be lifted approximately one hour after launch. The U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and KSC security forces share responsibility for enforcing the boating guidelines. -- end --