How are other countries notified about rocket launches?

[Stormer]

With increasing numbers of small private rocket companies that is in many cases not based in the USA (so no FAA rules, regulations and procedures) how do they notify their launches so countries does not mistake them for a ballistic missile attack like in the Norwegian rocket incident in 1995 (that was notified but the Russian radar operators did not get the message)? And they have to close the airspace of the rocket trajectory also right?

I see that for example Copenhagen Suborbitals is launching from a military firing practice area so the Danish military probably does that work for them, but what about companies like Rocket Lab that is launching from New Zealand or other small startups that maybe is planning to launch offshore in international waters and so on? And when you launch things into orbit that will pass over many countries.

 

[.Scott]

New Zealand (and 192 other nations) are members of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).
So, although New Zealand does not have an FAA, it does have a CAA, Civil Aviation Authority.
That CAA will have equivalent rules for the use of New Zealand airspace - including the management of NOTAMs.

Additional details are provided in this document at the end of page 1: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/assets/Uploads/RL-publicviewingrestrictions-F2.pdf.

I notice that the RocketLab restricted airspace (NZR401) extends to 13,500 feet AMSL (above mean sea level). So activity that occurs entirely within that zone would not require a NOTAM.

Th official NOTAM site for New Zealand is: http://ifis.airways.co.nz/
However, I cannot reach that site.

A list of NOTAM numbers associate with this site is kept by the FAA. Go to this FAA site:https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/nsapp.html#/
and search for NZZO.

 

[Stormer]

So they contact their local air authority and they will send out a NOTAM that will then be distributed to all international parties? Is this something they have to make a application and get approval for? Or do they just have to send out the notification that they are going to have a launch at XXX time and date and in XXX direction?

 

[Tom.G]

Th official NOTAM site for New Zealand is: http://ifis.airways.co.nz/
However, I cannot reach that site.

I can't reach them either, but if you want details the Whois for NZ lists the site:
https://www.dnc.org.nz/whois/search?domain_name=airways.co.nz

Cheers,
Tom

 

[.Scott]

So they contact their local air authority and they will send out a NOTAM that will then be distributed to all international parties? Is this something they have to make a application and get approval for? Or do they just have to send out the notification that they are going to have a launch at XXX time and date and in XXX direction?

They have already applied for and been granted the restricted airspace.
So their activities are already known and accepted.
When they request additional airspace for a specific period (over 13,500 AMSL), it can be denied - but I doubt it ever would be. This is not terribly different from a pilot asking to enter a TCA (Terminal Control Airspace). It's up to the Air Traffic Control to find a safe way to get him where he wants to get.

The CAA does not really "distribute to all international parties". They publicly post it. As a pilot flying in that area, it is my responsibility to know what the rules are for that restricted area and whether there are any NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) that will effect my plans. Depending on what kind of flight I am making and the flight conditions (IFR or VFR), I may file a flight plan. If I do, it is normally automatically checked against the lists of restricted airspace, NOTAMs, etc. But you aren't suppose to depend on that.

 

[anorlunda]

From
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_rocket_incident

Prior notification

The Norwegian and U.S. scientists had notified thirty countries, including Russia, of their intention to launch a high-altitude scientific experiment aboard a rocket; however, the information was not passed on to the radar technicians.[1] Following the incident, notification and disclosure protocols were re-evaluated and redesigned.[1]

1. EUCOM History Office (23 January 2012). "This Week in EUCOM History: January 23–29, 1995". United States European Command. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_rocket_incident#cite_note-EUCOM-1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_rocket_incident#cite_note-EUCOM-1