SpaceX is facing substantial fines of $633,000 for alleged safety breaches during two rocket launches in Florida in the previous year. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Tuesday that they are proposing these penalties due to SpaceX’s purported failure to adhere to licensing regulations.
In one instance, during a satellite launch in June 2023, SpaceX reportedly utilized a new launch control room without obtaining prior approval and neglected to conduct the required readiness check two hours before liftoff. Following this, in the next month, SpaceX launched a communication satellite using a newly constructed rocket fuel facility that had not yet been authorized by federal regulators.
Marc Nichols from the FAA emphasized that safety is of utmost importance in all their operations, especially in commercial space oversight. He stated in a release, “Failure of a company to comply with safety requirements will have consequences.” SpaceX has been given a 30-day window to respond to the FAA regarding these allegations, but they have not made any immediate comments on the matter.
The FAA is cracking down on SpaceX’s safety violations during these launches, highlighting the significance of adhering to strict regulations to ensure the safety of all operations in the commercial space industry.
