FAA Wants to Fine SpaceX Over 2023 Falcon Launch License Violations, Elon Musk Fights Back

The Federal Aviation Administration offers civil penalties totalling $633,009 against SpaceX for alleged violations of its commercial space transportation licenses during launches in 2023. These penalties are in accordance with statutory guidelines for enforcement.

“Safety drives everything we do at the FAA, including a legal responsibility for the safety oversight of companies with commercial space transportation licenses,” stated FAA Chief Counsel Marc Nichols. “Failure of a company to comply with the safety requirements will result in consequences.”

FAA strikes back?

The FAA announced fines a week after SpaceX’s long blog post, which was full of complaints that the FAA ‘wastes time’ by postponing the Starship launches.

The publication specifies PSN SATRIA Mission and EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter Mission that occurred in 2023.

In May 2023, SpaceX asked to change its communication plan for launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The changes included using a new launch control room at Hangar X and skipping a safety check called the T-2 hour readiness poll.

FAA didn’t submitted the approval but on 18 June 2023, SpaceX used the control room for the PSN SATRIA mission and did not do the required T-2 hour poll. Because of this, the FAA is proposing a fine of $350,000 ($175,000 for each rule broken).

Another case happened during the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission in July 2023. SpaceX asked to update its explosive site plan to include a new rocket fuel storage area at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. But on 28 July 2023, SpaceX used this unapproved fuel storage area for the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission. The FAA is proposing a fine of $283,009 for this incident.

What’s next? Will it affect Starship flight?

Now SpaceX has 30 days to respond to the FAA after receiving the notice about these fines.

Elon Musk has already replied on X (Twitter) saying that SpaceX will be filing suit against the FAA for regulatory overreach.

The FAA’s proposed fines show its focus on ensuring that space companies strictly follow safety rules. These actions are a reminder of how important it is for companies to stick to their license requirements to keep everyone safe and maintain proper operations during space missions.

People are now waiting to see how SpaceX will handle this situation and what the final outcome will be. However, these violations should not affect the upcoming Starship 5 flight.

Some X (Twitter) users went emotional after the proposed fines were published, claiming Elon Musk’s company didn’t do anything wrong and the FAA’s move is politically motivated.

Others agree that there are specific procedures and steps all companies need to follow, so FAA simply did their job.