FAA fined SpaceX for this reason

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a total of $633,009 in civil penalties against Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) for allegedly failing to adhere to its license requirements during two separate launches in 2023. This action comes in line with the FAA’s statutory guidelines for civil penalties.

Marc Nichols, the FAA Chief Counsel, emphasized the agency’s commitment to safety: “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.”

The proposed fines stem from two incidents involving SpaceX’s operations. In May 2023, SpaceX sought to revise its communications plan for launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The requested changes included the addition of a new launch control room at Hangar X and the removal of the T-2 hour readiness poll from its procedures. However, on June 18, 2023, SpaceX proceeded with the PSN SATRIA mission using the unapproved launch control room and skipped the required T-2 hour poll.

The FAA has proposed a $350,000 penalty for these violations, with $175,000 allocated to each infraction. Further, in July 2023, SpaceX submitted a request to update its explosive site plan for launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This revision was to accommodate a newly constructed rocket propellant farm.

Nonetheless, on July 28, 2023, SpaceX utilized the unapproved propellant farm for the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission. The FAA is proposing a $283,009 penalty for this infraction. SpaceX has 30 days from receiving the enforcement letters to respond to the FAA’s proposed penalties.