SpaceX Responds to Proposed FAA Fine
Blasts Agency for Lack of Timely Review of Licensing Materials
SpaceX has responded to a proposed $633,009 in civil penalty for allegedly failing to follow its license requirements during two launches in 2023. On the social media site X, SpaceX says it has been clear for some time that the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) "lacks the resources to timely review licensing materials, mistakenly focuses its limited resources on areas unrelated to its public safety regulatory scope and has been unsuccessful in modernizing and streamlining its regulations."
"For well over a year now, SpaceX has voiced concerns with the FAA's inability to keep pace with the commercial space industry."
SpaceX Letter to U.S. Congressional Leadership
The letter was sent to the leadership of the germane committees in the U.S. House and Senate. In the letter, the company pointed out that the proposed fines "were announced shortly after increased scrutiny on the AST by Congress for its failure to reasonably and timely execute its regulatory obligations." SpaceX, through its legal department, also pointed out that the agency's "politically appointed" Chief Counsel was quoted in the FAA's news release concerning the fine. It is the company's opinion that such a citation is "highly irregular and perhaps unprecedented."
"SpaceX is absolutely committed to safety in all operations," the letter states. "With respect to these matters, it is notable that in each instance, SpaceX provided AST with sufficient notice of these relatively minor license updates, which had no bearing on public safety. The fact that AST was unable to timely process these minor updates underscores systemic challenges at AST."
The company "forcefully rejects the FAA's assertion that it violated any regulations," the letter states.
"For well over a year now, SpaceX has voiced concerns with the FAA's inability to keep pace with the commercial space industry and the needs of the U.S. Government agencies that rely on commercial space launch capability for nation security and national priorities." (emphasis SpaceX)