FAA proposes $630,000 fine against SpaceX for 2023 regulatory violations

Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday said it plans to fine SpaceX for regulatory violations.

The FAA proposed to fine the company more than $630,000, saying it failed to comply with regulations during two launches in 2023.

SpaceX on June 18, 2023, used an unapproved launch control room for the PSN Satria mission and did not conduct the required hour poll, the FAA said. On July 28, 2023, the agency used an unapproved rocket propellant farm for the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission.

"Safety drives everything we do at the FAA, including a legal responsibility for the safety oversight of companies with commercial space transportation licenses," FAA Chief Counsel Marc Nichol said. "Failure of a company to comply with the safety requirements will result in consequences."

The proposed fine drew the ire of SpaceX's founder Elon Musk, who threatened legal action against the agency.

"SpaceX will be filing suit against the FAA for regulatory overreach," Musk said on X.

SpaceX remains in a holding pattern with the FAA over the fifth test of its Starship, which is expected to deliver humans and goods back to the Moon and eventually Mars. The FAA has been slow to approve the flight even though SpaceX it's been ready since August.

SpaceX railed against the FAA on Sept. 10 for its latest delay.

"We recently received a launch license date estimate of late November from the FAA," SpaceX said in a statement. "This is a more than two-month delay to the previously communicated date of mid-September.

"This delay was not based on a new safety concern but instead driven by superfluous environmental analysis. The four open environmental issues are illustrative of the difficulties launch companies face in the current regulatory environment for launch and reentry licensing."