Optimal aircraft rerouting during commercial space launches

To reduce the risk to nearby aircraft during space vehicle launches, the FAA shuts down a large column of airspace, often for hours at a time. These airspace restrictions lead to many rerouted aircraft. Recent research has explored ways to make airspace closures dynamic throughout the launch process and limit their geographic extent. This paper models the problem as a Markov decision process whose solution defines when an aircraft should be rerouted, minimizing inconvenience and cost while maintaining safety. The model captures the launch vehicle trajectory, probability of anomaly, potential debris trajectories, and air traffic. An optimization approach known as backwards induction value iteration results in a policy that recommends aircraft maneuvers. The scenario investigated in this work includes a two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, commercial aircraft at 35,000 ft, and potential debris trajectories. This approach yields policies that are safe and that cause minimal disruption to the airspace.