FAA fines SpaceX, founder threatens lawsuit for license delays

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a fine against SpaceX. On the other hand,  the company founder has announced filing a lawsuit against the agency for delaying its new missions.

FAA could imply $633,009 in civil penalties against the space rocket maker for allegedly not following license requirements for two missions from 2023 including one in May and the second in July.

“In May 2023, SpaceX submitted a request to revise its communications plan related to its license to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The proposed revisions included adding a new launch control room at Hangar X and removing the T-2 hour readiness poll from its procedures. On June 18, 2023, SpaceX used the unapproved launch control room for the PSN SATRIA mission and did not conduct the required T-2 hour poll. The FAA is proposing $350,000 in civil penalties ($175,000 for each alleged violation).

In July 2023, SpaceX submitted a request to revise its explosive site plan related to its license to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The proposed revision reflected a newly constructed rocket propellant farm. On July 28, 2023, SpaceX used the unapproved rocket propellant farm for the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission. The FAA is proposing a $283,009 civil penalty.”

The agency wrote that SpaceX has 30 days to respond after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letters.

Founder to file a lawsuit

SpaceX founder, Elon Musk reacted to this news and said his company would be filing a suit against the FAA for regulatory overreach.

This friction between the two sides has increased with the delays in Starship test licenses. This is an ambitious project for SpaceX as it could send a larger payload to orbit, the moon, and beyond.

SpaceX has criticized the agency more openly recently in a press release and confirmed that the agency has pushed the test to November, which was originally planned for September.

Meanwhile, the FAA said that the delay is related to the changes made by SpaceX in the launch license approval application.