SpaceX fires back at US aviation regulator over fines
SpaceX is resisting the imposition of fines by the US aviation regulator. The aerospace company accuses the authority of working too slowly.
(Image: SpaceX)
The US aerospace company SpaceX is defending itself against allegations and demands for fines of 633,009 US dollars from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for license violations on two space missions that are said to have endangered the safety of the public. In a letter to leading US congressmen, the aerospace company is now firing back at the regulator, complaining of fundamental delays in the FAA's approval process.
SpaceX had previously applied for changes to its license for two space missions in June and July 2023 with a total of three rocket launches. These included a new control center for the rocket launches, the deletion of the T-2 launch readiness request and the use of a newly constructed rocket fuel facility. The FAA had refused to approve the requested changes. SpaceX had nevertheless carried them out without permission and used the facilities, for example. The FAA therefore imposed a fine of 633,009 dollars on SpaceX on Wednesday. This is the highest civil penalty against a commercial space company to date.
SpaceX claims that the FAA was unable to process the "relatively minor" license updates in a timely manner. The space company sees this as proof that the regulator is unable to keep up with the rapid progress of space travel, particularly that of SpaceX.
Overburdened FAA
The reason for this is probably the overstaffing of the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST), which is responsible for reviewing and approving launch licenses. The AST is currently under increased scrutiny by the US Congress. Specifically, the extent to which the department is burdened by the regulations for commercial space companies and how this affects the speed of approvals is being examined.
The AST has already been increased by 35 employees to 158 in 2023, the FAA's Deputy Administrator for Commercial Spaceflight, Kevin Coleman, told the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology at the beginning of September. According to this, additional funds have been requested for 2025 to further strengthen the department in terms of personnel.
SpaceX had already repeatedly pointed out the FAA's "superfluous" regulations. These are outdated and would hinder progress in space travel. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, wrote on his Platform X: "The fundamental problem is that unless there is radical reform at the FAA, humanity will be confined to Earth forever."
SpaceX: No safety problems
SpaceX denied to the FAA the safety problems that are said to have been caused by ignoring the FAA's requirements. The changes would not have had any impact on general safety. They would therefore not fall under the FAA's regulatory authority. In this context, SpaceX refers to a separate approval from a safety authority of the US government for the use of the then newly constructed rocket fuel facility.
SpaceX suspects that the fines could be politically motivated. There is no other explanation for the fact that the fines were imposed more than a year late – at a time when the FAA was under congressional scrutiny. The FAA rejected this accusation. Former FAA Administrator Billiy Nolen said that the FAA is a government agency and therefore "as apolitical as you can get".
(olb)