Rocket launch exclusion zone

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Just viewed a scrubbed launch by Spacex. During the count down, there was a hold for a "fouled range", a range safety violation caused by a ship ( likely ).

My question is: I remember from NASA launches ( as well as Navy live fire exercises ) vessels are "escorted" out of the area, but is there a penalty for having violated the zone?

( Note: I have never violated such an active zone! )
 
Many years ago the Army did a night launch of an Atlas (?) We were just north of the Cape which was then declared an exclusion zone. There was no prior notice of which I knew. We just happened to monitor ch 16 etc and heard it. Monitoring 16 was wise but not mandatory. I doubt if there would be a fine. I have also been chased out of live fire area under similar circumstances. Again no fine just trying to avoid paperwork, next of kin notification et cetera..
 
I would think just like construction projects, if a Federal navigable waterway needs to be restricted to be safe, an application would go to the USCG District waterways management folk, well ahead of the actual event. Based upon the application/request, a Restricted Navigation Area (RNA) would be delineated and published in the Local Notice to Mariners. LNMs are issued weekly by the local USCG District, and available to all boaters as a free pdf download.

The District would task the local USCG Captain of the Port (COTP) with enforcement responsibilities for an RNA within their area of responsibility (AOR). I would think, like any law enforcement action, the LEO on site has appropriate latitude regarding a simple 'escort' from an area or something a bit more severe . . ..

How many recreational boaters actually look at LNM's is another story!
 
The aviation version of LNM is Notices to Airmen (NOTAM). While it has its own share of problems, it is much more effectively disseminated than LNM. There are numerous flight briefing and flight planning sites on line, including the FAA site. Restricted airspace is "turned on" prior to the launch and "turned off" shortly after the launch. Aviators who are not aware of these Temporary Flight Restrictions are subject to serious fines and possible criminal charges. You have to really be asleep at the wheel to be unaware of this information while flying. In my experience, you really have to dig around a bit to find LNM, and it (like NOTAM's) is not always easy to understand where the boundaries of the exclusion zones are located. I am relatively new to salt water boating, so perhaps I just don't know where to look. I've also never heard of anyone being subjected to more than being chased out of the area and perhaps yelled at while inadvertently boating in the exclusion zones. I live about 25 miles north of Cape Canaveral, so this is a routine issue for boating and aviation around here.
 
Even private pilots are required classroom and practical proficiency before heading to the friendly skies. . . your local "private" mariner - well, not so much. Which again, leads to the classic 'should boaters be licensed' debate. Unfortunately, many states, like my humble NY, have confused the requirements for a boating license - like sound, knowledgeable education - with making a buck off a quick, online test: ability to spit out answers is necessary, ability to gain knowledge and retain is not a requirement.

The info is there, as Philyteach points out.
 
quote:
Originally posted by damaib

The aviation version of LNM is Notices to Airmen (NOTAM). While it has its own share of problems, it is much more effectively disseminated than LNM. There are numerous flight briefing and flight planning sites on line, including the FAA site. Restricted airspace is "turned on" prior to the launch and "turned off" shortly after the launch. Aviators who are not aware of these Temporary Flight Restrictions are subject to serious fines and possible criminal charges. You have to really be asleep at the wheel to be unaware of this information while flying. In my experience, you really have to dig around a bit to find LNM, and it (like NOTAM's) is not always easy to understand where the boundaries of the exclusion zones are located. I am relatively new to salt water boating, so perhaps I just don't know where to look. I've also never heard of anyone being subjected to more than being chased out of the area and perhaps yelled at while inadvertently boating in the exclusion zones. I live about 25 miles north of Cape Canaveral, so this is a routine issue for boating and aviation around here.

Click to expand...


I whole heartedly agree. The distribution of NOTAMS and TFRs is much better than LNM. Training not withstanding, I can pull out a smartphone and in seconds have a chart with NOTAMS so noted for the area I operate in.
 
quote:
Originally posted by GeeBee

I whole heartedly agree. The distribution of NOTAMS and TFRs is much better than LNM. Training not withstanding, I can pull out a smartphone and in seconds have a chart with NOTAMS so noted for the area I operate in.

Click to expand...


FAA vs DHS . . . think ATC vs TSA. Sometimes govm't kinda works, sometimes, not so much!
 
For years I received LNM by Snail Mail. Today, a link to the most recent version of the LNM is emailed to me and can be viewed on any device. How much easier could it be.
 
And then you have to rifle through all the data to find the notices for your area, read the dates to determine if they pertinent to you. In aviation, if I look at a given port, or route, the application will immediately tell me if there are pertinent notices in effect for the dates I plan to operate.

In addition, as conditions warrant, say a forest fire crops up and they need to close the airspace it is disseminated by data link, which shows up on your E-chart immediately as you operate and it is broadcast by FSS stations as well a ATC.

That is how much easier it can be.
 
Even if LNM's were that 'user friendly', there's a still certain amount of technical knowledge required to decipher graphical representations of Changes to the Norm. Most newbee recreational boaters don't understand the nomenclature around a buoy on an existing chart, let alone some new symbology for navaid 'off station', or 'light extinguished.'
 
That is why aviaiton developed plain language decifphering of notams and wx and when there is graphical representations, you simply touch on the symbology on the screen and the depiction is explained in a dialogue box.
 
quote:
Originally posted by GeeBee

That is why aviaiton developed plain language decifphering of notams and wx and when there is graphical representations, you simply touch on the symbology on the screen and the depiction is explained in a dialogue box.

Click to expand...


But that assumes that I have an electronic navigation suite similarly advanced as the one on your airplane.
 
Nope, we are doing it on Ipads. Some of the apps are free.

But look let's put the blame where it belongs. Right now, I can use my Garmin 740 networked to a cell connection or to XM Weather to overlay weather on my chartplotter on my boat. Now it is touch screen, and accepts overlay data why cannot I do the same with LNM data? Answer. The way the data is distributed from the government. We in avation demanded a change in data distribution , to make it real time and electronic and we got it. Marine which is just as large a user should demand no less.
 
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