The Federal Aviation Administration alleged Tuesday that SpaceX violated its launch license requirements on two occasions last year by using an unauthorized launch control center and fuel farm at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The regulator seeks to fine SpaceX $633,009 for the alleged violations, which occurred during a Falcon 9 launch and a Falcon Heavy launch last year. Combined, the proposed fines make up the largest civil penalty ever imposed by the FAA’s commercial spaceflight division.
“Safety drives everything we do at the FAA, including a legal responsibility for the safety oversight of companies with commercial space transportation licenses,” said Marc Nichols, the FAA’s chief counsel, in a statement. “Failure of a company to comply with the safety requirements will result in consequences.”
Hours later, Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO, vowed to sue the FAA, calling the proposed penalties an example of “lawfare” against his company. “SpaceX will be filing suit against the FAA for regulatory overreach,” Musk posted on X, his social media platform.
The FAA rarely imposes fines on commercial space companies. The agency oversees the licensing of commercial launch and reentry operations by US companies and is responsible for ensuring spaceflight activities do not endanger the uninvolved public or go against US national security and foreign policy interests.
Last week, SpaceX accused the FAA of delaying the next test flight of the company’s giant Starship rocket “for unreasonable and exasperating reasons.” The FAA said it doesn’t expect to decide on approving SpaceX’s request for a commercial launch license for the next Starship launch until late November, two months later than the FAA’s previous estimate.
For the first time, SpaceX will attempt to return the Starship rocket’s Super Heavy booster back to its launch pad in South Texas on the next flight. The FAA said this change in mission profile triggered a more in-depth regulatory review.
Musk, who supports former President Donald Trump in this year’s presidential election, has denounced labor, health, and now spaceflight regulations, and Trump has said he will enlist Musk to head a “government efficiency commission” if elected president.
