Elon Musk says SpaceX will sue FAA for 'regulatory overreach'
The federal agency announced proposed fines of $633K against SpaceX on Tuesday
SpaceX Polaris Dawn conducts first private spacewalk with billionaire Jared Isaacman
Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4 integrated payment processing solutions, participated in the first ever private spacewalk on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (Credit: @SpaceX via X)
Elon Musk said on Tuesday that SpaceX will file a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), accusing the agency of "regulatory overreach."
"SpaceX will be filing suit against the FAA for regulatory overreach," Musk said in a post on X.
The tech billionaire's comments came after the FAA proposed fines of $633,000 against SpaceX on Tuesday, alleging Musk's company did not "follow its license requirements" related to a pair of launches last summer.
The agency alleged SpaceX incurred $350,000 in fines during a June 18, 2023, launch by using an "unapproved control room" and not "conduct[ing] the required T-2 hour poll."
The tech billionaire's comments came after the FAA announced proposed fines of $633,000 against SpaceX on Tuesday. (Photographer: Alisha Jucevic/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The other roughly $283,000 in fines stemmed from a July 28, 2023, launch in which Musk’s company allegedly "used the unapproved rocket propellant farm," the FAA said.
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SpaceX asked for a revision in its communications plan for the June 2023 launch and one for its explosive site plan for the July 2023 mission, according to the FAA’s press release.
"Safety drives everything we do at the FAA, including a legal responsibility for the safety oversight of companies with commercial space transportation licenses. Failure of a company to comply with the safety requirements will result in consequences," FAA Chief Counsel Marc Nichols said in a statement.
SpaceX has a 30-day response window for the fines, according to the FAA.
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X Chief Technology Officer Elon Musk speaks onstage during the "Exploring the New Frontiers of Innovation: Mark Read in Conversation with Elon Musk" session at the Lumiere Theatre during the Cannes Lions International Festival Of Creativity 2024 - Da (Photo by Richard Bord/WireImage / Getty Images)
FOX Business reached out to SpaceX for comment on the proposed fines and Musk's social media post.
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The company has a strong presence in the space industry, including contracts with the federal government. It notched its 90th mission of the year on Tuesday.