SpaceX could soon be hit with a hefty $630,000 fine for safety violations on two of its missions, according to a disclosure from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The FAA revealed that SpaceX committed three separate safety violations during missions last year. These violations, which occurred on different missions, have prompted the agency to propose the fine. The proposed penalties align with the FAA’s safety standards for spaceflights.
The First Violation
The first violation occurred on June 18, 2023, during the PSN SATRIA mission. SpaceX had submitted a request to revise its communication plans for the mission but then proceeded to use an unapproved launch control room.
Additionally, the company failed to conduct the required T-2 hour poll. Each of these violations is proposed with a $175,000 fine, bringing the total civil penalties for this mission to $350,000.
The Second Violation
The second violation involved SpaceX’s July 2023 EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission. SpaceX requested a revision to the explosive site plan at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, specifically regarding a new rocket propellant farm.
However, the company used an unapproved rocket propellant for the mission, leading to a proposed civil penalty of $283,009.
SpaceX has faced ongoing scrutiny from the FAA over the years. Although the company has been a key player in the space industry, it wasn’t until the 2010s that it secured FAA approval for its missions.
Over the years, SpaceX has had multiple run-ins with the FAA, particularly concerning its experimental Starship program, and has received various warnings.
One of the most notable controversies occurred before the test flights of the fully-stacked Starship, which were delayed due to SpaceX not having the proper launch license from the FAA.
The company was also involved in an environmental lawsuit related to the potential impact of its launches on the wildlife and ecosystem near its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
Most recently, a mishap with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket resulted in the FAA grounding the vehicle, causing delays to the company’s Starlink satellite delivery and the Polaris Dawn mission.
Now, with the 2023 review, SpaceX finds itself facing significant fines. The company was initially given 30 days to respond to the FAA’s proposed penalties in September 2024
