SpaceX Writes A Letter To Congress Denying FAA’s Allegations

In the four-page letter, SpaceX declares that the FAA stands in the way of innovations in the space industry, pointing out what is wrong with its allegations. 

What’s Going On Between SpaceX And The FAA?

On 17 September, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it intends to fine SpaceX $630,000 for alleged violations of its commercial space transportation licences during launches last year.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk responded to the news that same day, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the company is going to sue the FAA “for regulatory overreach.”

There is a new twist in this story – on 18 September SpaceX wrote a letter to Congress, disputing the fine, denying all the allegations and accusing the FAA of incompetence. The letter was posted on X (Twitter).

The FAA alleges three violations: 

• SpaceX used the unapproved rocket propellant farm for the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission
• In June 2023 SpaceX used an updated Communications Plan that has not been approved by FAA
• SpaceX did not conduct a launch poll two hours prior to the launch.

SpaceX’s Defence: What’s Their Stand?

“SpaceX forcefully rejects the FAA’s assertion that it violated any regulations”, the company wrote.

In the letter, which was sent to the chair and ranking member of both the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and the U.S. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, SpaceX with the details explains why these allegations are unfair. 

For example, the company went into a lot of detail when analysing the allegation of using the unapproved rocket propellant farm for the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission.

SpaceX noted that, on 20 August, 2023, the FAA issued a waiver allowing the use of the propellant farm ahead of SpaceX’s launch of NASA’s Crew-7 mission. “Since SpaceX’s operations for the Echostar XXIV/Jupiter 3 launch and the Crew-7 launch were the same as related to the new RP-1 farm, it’s not clear why the FAA made a positive safety determination for the Crew-7 launch, but could not do the same for the Echostar XXIV/Jupiter 3 launch,” the company added in the letter.

Concerning another matter, SpaceX states that there is no requirement in the regulations for a two hour readiness poll prior to the launch. “Importantly, SpaceX conducts a poll prior to propellant loading, later in the count, consistent with safe operations,” as stated in the letter.  

Overall, SpaceX said that the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation “lacks the resources to timely review licensing materials” and “mistakenly focuses its limited resources on areas unrelated to its public safety regulatory scope.”

Finalising the letter, SpaceX accuses FAA of being unable “to keep pace with the commercial space industry”, which “threatens national priorities and undercut American industry’s ability to innovate”.