Chinese Tourist Charged Over Drone Flight Near Kennedy Space Center Launch Pads

A Chinese tourist faces two federal charges after flying a drone in restricted airspace above NASA's Kennedy Space Center, coming within 1.56 miles of the Artemis-based pad 39B. The device captured footage of launch pads 39A and 39B before KSC police seized it, according to a court affidavit.

On 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 drone had flown for 12 minutes and 24 seconds and recorded four videos, reaching a maximum altitude of 231 feet. The footage captured pads 39A and 39B, the Atlantic Ocean, Playalinda Beach, the Indian River Lagoon and North Kennedy Parkway.

He was accompanied by three family members. One told police they were vacationing in the United States and flew the drone to capture scenery. The Federal Aviation Administration has designated the airspace above KSC as restricted national defense airspace, and all unmanned aircraft are prohibited except when approved by NASA and the FAA. The family member said they were unaware of the restrictions and 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 an 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. His court affidavit included five photos of "No Drone Zone" road signs posted on KSC property. The U.S. Attorney's Office and Office of the Federal Public Defender declined to comment.

Drone flights continue making news along Florida's Space Coast. Port Canaveral officials recorded more than 500 drone flights last year, prompting security concerns. U.S. Rep. 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.

The case follows a similar prosecution. 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 over three days. NASA detected the drone activity, and Brevard County Sheriff's Office deputies saw Pan operating a drone from a parking lot at Port Canaveral. His plea deal stated he captured images of roads, power distribution infrastructure, security checkpoints, mission control infrastructure, national security space launch infrastructure, fuel and munitions storage, and naval infrastructure within the station. Pan was ordered removed from the United States.

He will be arraigned at 10 a.m. Sept. 18 at the Middle District of Florida federal courthouse in Orlando.