Narrative:

Carf (central altitude reservation facility) creates stationary altrvs (altitude reservations) for rocket launches. Normally when carf creates an altrv; the FAA requires the agency requesting the altrv to abide to FAA regulation. Carf has been ordered to create altrvs for both areas individually.the first stationary altrv was requested through the space wing airspace manager. It abides to an old safety standard; that we call -6 risk contour. The second altrv was requested by ZZZ center. ZZZ center must have an altrv that overlies the first altrv. ZZZ center abide to the new FAA-commercial space standard we call -7 risk contour.the alr (acceptable level of risk) is the amount of risk that each launch operation can have on the public. The old space standard allows for a 1 in a million = 1x10-6 (-6 risk contour). The new FAA-commercial space allows for a 1 in 10 million = 1x10-7 (-7 risk contour). The FAA safety standard is much higher than old space safety standards.the launch -6 and -7 contour were both approved. On the morning [the launching agency]; (-6 contour) inquired about expanding the launch times. If the -6 contour launch time expands; then ZZZ center (-7 contour) will need to expand as well. Carf received the change request from ZZZ center to expand the launch time by 53 minutes. Once a change to an altrv begins; the current altrv is void; until the coordination for the revision is complete. Carf begins the process of changing ZZZ's altrv request and expecting a revision to the [launching agency's] altrv to follow. However; [the launching agency] decided not to expand the times and keep the original altrv approval. Safety is compromised because [the launching agency] has an altrv approval to launch; but ZZZ center's altrv is still being re-coordinated. Carf contacted ZZZ center to see if they could keep their original time; but said they were being pressured by upper management to comply to the needs of [the launching agency] and had already adjusted the notams. [The launching agency's] indecisive behavior on launch times also contributes to the safety problem. Carf was able to complete the ZZZ center re-coordination less than 1 hour before the scheduled launch. This creates a significant safety issue when a launch that requires coordination with multiple facilities are being modified within hours of a launch. Safety concerns: (1.) there are no written procedures to prevent last minute changes. (2.) FAA management contributes to the safety issue by supporting [launching agencies] without understanding the workload and time constraints this puts on under-staffed FAA facilities. Carf specialist requested and received an hour of overtime; which allowed carf to have 2 specialist available to expedite the coordination process.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Traffic Control Command Center Traffic management unit specialist reported the launching agency and Center requested a time change which voided current altitude reservation (ALTRV) NOTAM. The launching agency resumed original time window; Center and Central Altitude Reservation Facility (CARF) were able to disseminate proper ALTRV in time.

Narrative: CARF (Central Altitude Reservation Facility) creates Stationary ALTRVs (Altitude Reservations) for rocket launches. Normally when CARF creates an ALTRV; the FAA requires the agency requesting the ALTRV to abide to FAA regulation. CARF has been ordered to create ALTRVs for both areas individually.The first Stationary ALTRV was requested through the Space Wing Airspace Manager. It abides to an OLD Safety Standard; that we call -6 Risk Contour. The second ALTRV was requested by ZZZ Center. ZZZ Center must have an ALTRV that overlies the first ALTRV. ZZZ Center abide to the NEW FAA-Commercial Space standard we call -7 Risk Contour.The ALR (Acceptable Level of Risk) is the amount of risk that each launch operation can have on the public. The OLD Space standard allows for a 1 in a million = 1X10-6 (-6 Risk Contour). The NEW FAA-Commercial Space allows for a 1 in 10 million = 1X10-7 (-7 Risk Contour). The FAA safety standard is much higher than OLD Space safety standards.The launch -6 and -7 Contour were both approved. On the morning [the launching agency]; (-6 Contour) inquired about expanding the launch times. If the -6 contour launch time expands; then ZZZ Center (-7 Contour) will need to expand as well. CARF received the change request from ZZZ Center to expand the launch time by 53 minutes. Once a change to an ALTRV begins; the current ALTRV is VOID; until the coordination for the revision is complete. CARF begins the process of changing ZZZ's ALTRV request and expecting a revision to the [launching agency's] ALTRV to follow. However; [the launching agency] decided not to expand the times and keep the original ALTRV approval. Safety is compromised because [the launching agency] has an ALTRV approval to launch; but ZZZ Center's ALTRV is still being re-coordinated. CARF contacted ZZZ Center to see if they could keep their original time; but said they were being pressured by upper management to comply to the needs of [the launching agency] and had already adjusted the NOTAMs. [The launching agency's] indecisive behavior on launch times also contributes to the safety problem. CARF was able to complete the ZZZ Center re-coordination less than 1 hour before the scheduled launch. This creates a significant safety issue when a launch that requires coordination with multiple facilities are being modified within hours of a launch. Safety concerns: (1.) There are no written procedures to prevent last minute changes. (2.) FAA management contributes to the safety issue by supporting [launching agencies] without understanding the workload and time constraints this puts on under-staffed FAA facilities. CARF specialist requested and received an hour of overtime; which allowed CARF to have 2 specialist available to expedite the coordination process.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.