By air-traffic I mean commercial or military flights – how is the air space in general allocated to differentiate between commercial and military purposes? What extra measures are taken to clear the air space during the launch of space missions?
The question is for any space organization including NASA.
In: Technology
During launch the airspace around the launch site (usually Cape Canaveral) is a no-fly zone and all nearby aircraft are informed before the flight or by ATC. As well as this, the area is sometimes patrolled by the Air Force (this was during launches of the Space Shuttle or other manned missions but on unmanned flights there isn’t necessarily a defensive wing on hand).
They file paperwork with the FAA to launch so the FAA keeps the area clear of commercial flights. They also launch from military bases (the Cape is considered a military base), so airspace over the area is generally restricted anyways.
Here’s an example FAA “NOTAM” (Notice to Airmen) for space operations at Cape Canaveral.
https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_9_7920.html
All pilots are required to check for and obey NOTAMs along their route, and air traffic controllers will steer them clear of the area. If a pilot does wander into the airspace, the launch may be scrubbed and the pilot will be in big trouble.
Here’s the perspective of a private pilot watching a SpaceX launch from outside the restricted airspace, so you can get an idea of how tightly controlled this area is on launch day:
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