Current:Home > MySpaceX faces $633,000 fine from FAA over alleged launch violations: Musk plans to sue -Ascend Finance Compass
SpaceX faces $633,000 fine from FAA over alleged launch violations: Musk plans to sue
View
Date:2025-04-19 00:20:39
- The news is the latest clash between SpaceX and the FAA, which briefly grounded the company's Falcon 9 rocket late in August.
- Musk and other SpaceX officials have not been shy about keeping their frustrations with federal regulators a secret, blasting them in a blog post last week.
SpaceX has once again run afoul of federal regulators, who now want to fine Elon Musk's spaceflight company more than half-a-million dollars for what they allege are two separate launch violations last year.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday its proposal to hit SpaceX with a total of $633,009 in civil penalties for what the agency claims were failures by the company to follow license requirements ahead of the launches. The news is the latest clash between SpaceX and the FAA, which briefly grounded the company's Falcon 9 rocket late in August.
“Safety drives everything we do at the FAA, including a legal responsibility for the safety oversight of companies with commercial space transportation licenses,” FAA Chief Counsel Marc Nichols said in a statement. “Failure of a company to comply with the safety requirements will result in consequences.”
In response, Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, took to his social media site X to indicate his plans to sue the agency for "regulatory overreach."
Polaris Dawn:Commercial spaceflight was a mission for the history books: Look back at the biggest moments
FAA proposes penalties over 2 launches in 2023
The FAA, which licenses commercial rocket launches, said the proposed penalties are in relation to alleged infractions that occurred during launches in June and July 2023.
The first launch the agency cited is the PSN Satria Mission, which lifted off June 18, 2023 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida with an Indonesian communications satellite, according to Space.com.
That May, SpaceX had "submitted a request to revise its communications plan related to" its license to launch from the Florida site, the FAA said in a news release. The request include two proposed revisions: adding a new launch control room at one of the facility's hangars, and removing from its procedures a readiness poll previously taken two hours before liftoff.
But before the FAA could approve the request, SpaceX went ahead with the PSN Satria launch with those revisions anyway, according to the agency, which is proposing a $175,000 fine for each of the two alleged violations.
The second launch happened on July 28, 2023 during Jupiter 3, according to the FAA. Also known as EchoStar XXIV, the launch involved a giant telecom satellite rocketing to orbit on a Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
The FAA is accusing SpaceX of using a new rocket propellant farm at the Kennedy Space Center that the agency had not yet approved. For that alleged violation, the FAA is proposing an additional $283,009 penalty.
SpaceX has 30 days to respond to the FAA after receiving the agency’s enforcement letters.
SpaceX Falcon 9 grounded earlier in September
News of the proposed fines come just three weeks after the FAA opted to ground SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket following a fiery landing mishap.
Though the Aug. 28 mission was an otherwise successful orbital satellite delivery, a rocket booster tipped over and exploded upon returning to Earth. In response, the FAA briefly ordered that no Falcon 9 launches could take place until it had time to investigate the cause of the reason for the landing failure.
The Falcon 9 was once again cleared for takeoff within a couple days even as the FAA investigation continued.
The September grounding was the second in recent months: the FAA halted Falcon 9 launches for two weeks in July following an oxygen leak issue.
The FAA's proposed penalties against SpaceX also follow a groundbreaking commercial spaceflight mission that the company oversaw. The Polaris Dawn astronauts who flew to orbit on a SpaceX Dragon landed Sunday after a five-day mission that included a pioneering spacewalk.
SpaceX hits back against FAA, regulations
Musk and other SpaceX officials have not been shy about keeping their frustrations with federal regulators a secret.
In a lengthy blog post last week, the company railed against regulatory requirements from agencies like both the FAA and Environmental Protection Agency.
"Unfortunately, we continue to be stuck in a reality where it takes longer to do the government paperwork to license a rocket launch than it does to design and build the actual hardware," SpaceX wrote in the post. "This should never happen and directly threatens America's position as the leader in space."
That post largely focused on SpaceX's Starship megarocket, which the company is developing to transport astronauts to the lunar surface – and perhaps even one day, Mars. SpaceX blasted the FAA for licensing the Starship for a November launch, despite the vehicle being ready since early August for its fifth test flight.
The gargantuan rocket, which has so far only undergone uncrewed tests, managed to once again make it to orbit in its fourth and most recent test in June before accomplishing a first: splashing down for its first successful landing in the Indian Ocean.
"This delay was not based on a new safety concern," SpaceX claimed, "but instead driven by superfluous environmental analysis."
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
veryGood! (6468)
Related
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs lead U.S. women to fencing gold in team foil at Paris Olympics
- The Daily Money: Rate cuts coming soon?
- Two couples drop wrongful death suit against Alabama IVF clinic and hospital
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Simone Biles' 2024 Olympics Necklace Proves She's the GOAT After Gymnastics Gold Medal Win
- Chris Evans Reveals If His Dog Dodger Played a Role in His Wedding to Alba Baptista
- The number of Americans filing for jobless claims hits highest level in a year
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Who is Carlos Ortiz? Golfer in medal contention after Round 1 at 2024 Paris Olympics
Ranking
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- A first look at the 2025 Cadillac Escalade
- PHOTO COLLECTION: At a home for India’s unwanted elders, faces of pain and resilience
- Court filings provide additional details of the US’ first nitrogen gas execution
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Who Is Rebeca Andrade? Meet Simone Biles’ Biggest Competition in Gymnastics
- 2024 Olympics: Suni Lee Wins Bronze During Gymnastics All-Around Final
- Protecting against floods, or a government-mandated retreat from the shore? New Jersey rules debated
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Why Pregnant Cardi B’s Divorce From Offset Has Been a “Long Time Coming”
A first look at the 2025 Cadillac Escalade
How high can Simone Biles jump? The answer may surprise you
John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
Who is Carlos Ortiz? Golfer in medal contention after Round 1 at 2024 Paris Olympics
Venu Sports may be available for $42.99 per month with its planned launch targeted for fall
Former Georgia gym owner indicted for sexual exploitation of children