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Drone Rules for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Merritt Island, Florida (FL)
• United States
Space Commerce Wy, Merritt Island, FL 32953, USA
Lat: 28.5219 • Lng: -80.6815
Rules Edit History: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
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May 30, 2026 7:20 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Merritt Island NWR with Kennedy Space Center R-2935 TFR overlay, Florida scrub-jay, and dual agency permit context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.75
Your proposed edit detailing drone regulations at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, including the USFWS prohibition, Kennedy Space Center TFR overlay, and dual agency permit context, has been approved. This aligns with USFWS regulations prohibiting drone operations within the refuge. The added context enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | USFWS prohibits drones on Merritt Island NWR. Kennedy Space Center's TFR and the refuge's co-location with KSC create one of the most complex airspace environments for wildlife managers in the US. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 1d7b49d2-e9df-4e83-b848-447c66d00e0a |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Merritt Island NWR, Florida **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; permanent KSC TFR (R-2935) overlays the entire refuge. ### Airspace / Site Context - Kennedy Space Center restricted airspace R-2935 covers the refuge; activation (launches, processing days) creates a hard ceiling -- NO civilian UAS - Orlando Melbourne International (MLB) Class C is ~10 NM south; Daytona Beach International (DAB) Class C is ~30 NM north - Over 330 bird species including Florida scrub-jay (threatened), bald eagle nests, and manatees in Indian River Lagoon ### Key Rules - Check R-2935 status daily via FAA TFR viewer; KSC launch days mean zero civilian airspace access - Even on non-TFR days, USFWS Director's Order 210 prohibits drones independently of the military airspace restriction - USFWS/KSC joint Special Use Permit required for research UAS -- dual agency review process ### Source - USFWS Merritt Island: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island
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+ ## Drone Rules - Merritt Island NWR, Florida + + **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; permanent KSC TFR (R-2935) overlays the entire refuge. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - Kennedy Space Center restricted airspace R-2935 covers the refuge; activation (launches, processing days) creates a hard ceiling -- NO civilian UAS + - Orlando Melbourne International (MLB) Class C is ~10 NM south; Daytona Beach International (DAB) Class C is ~30 NM north + - Over 330 bird species including Florida scrub-jay (threatened), bald eagle nests, and manatees in Indian River Lagoon + + ### Key Rules + - Check R-2935 status daily via FAA TFR viewer; KSC launch days mean zero civilian airspace access + - Even on non-TFR days, USFWS Director's Order 210 prohibits drones independently of the military airspace restriction + - USFWS/KSC joint Special Use Permit required for research UAS -- dual agency review process + + ### Source + - USFWS Merritt Island: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island +