12.09.2026
A Chinese man faces arraignment on two federal crimes after he flew a drone in restricted airspace above NASA's Kennedy Space Center — encroaching within 1.56 miles of the Artemis-based pad 39B, a court affidavit said.
The evening of July 25, KSC police responded to Playalinda Beach Access #8 at Canaveral National Seashore and saw Xiaodong He operating the drone, the affidavit said. The drone had flown for 12 minutes and 24 seconds and recorded four videos, reaching a maximum altitude of 231 feet and capturing footage of KSC pads 39A and 39B, the Atlantic Ocean, Playalinda Beach, the Indian River Lagoon and North Kennedy Parkway.
He was accompanied by three family members, and one told police they were vacationing in the United States and flew the drone to capture scenery, the affidavit said. The Federal Aviation Administration has designated a restricted national defense airspace above KSC. All unmanned aircraft are prohibited, except when approved by NASA and the FAA.
The family member said they were not aware of the drone restrictions, and they offered to delete the videos. Police seized the drone and controller, issued trespass warnings to the four relatives, and escorted them off KSC property.
On Aug. 7, federal prosecutors issued an arrest warrant charging He with violation of national defense airspace and operating aircraft without an airman's certificate. Department of Homeland Security agents arrested him the next day at a hotel next to Laguardia Airport in New York City.
He was released on personal recognizance in U.S. District Court, placed on pretrial supervision, and ordered to surrender his passport, which was issued by the People's Republic of China. Next, He will be arraigned at 10 a.m. Sept. 18 at the Middle District of Florida federal courthouse in Orlando.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Office of the Federal Public Defender declined to comment for this story.
Drone flights continue making news along Florida's Space Coast. Example: Port Canaveral officials recorded more than 500 drone flights last year, prompting security concerns. U.S. Reps. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indian Harbour Beach, co-sponsored a bill introduced in June that would crack down on unauthorized drone flights above American seaports.
In late August, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast would receive a $150,000 state grant to conduct a regional public awareness campaign focusing on responsible drone use near Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base.
He's court affidavit included five photos of "No Drone Zone" road signs posted on KSC property.
In July 2025, Xiao Guang Pan, a native of China and Canadian citizen, pleaded guilty to three charges after admitting to taking nearly 250 drone photos and videos of military installations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during a three-day span.
NASA detected the drone activity, and Brevard County Sheriff's Office deputies saw Pan operating a drone from a parking lot at Port Canaveral, according to his plea deal.
"He launched and operated his drone from Class D controlled airspace, just outside the CCSFS restricted airspace border, without receiving FAA approval. During this flight, Pan captured images and videos of roads, power distribution infrastructure, security checkpoints, mission control infrastructure, national security space launch infrastructure, fuel and munitions storage, and naval infrastructure within CCSFS," his plea deal said.
Pan was ordered removed from the United States.
Quelle: Florida Today