SpaceX will file a lawsuit against the FAA for 'excessive regulation'.

• Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, announced that the company intends to file a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration for "excessive regulation."
• The FAA's decision to fine SpaceX for licensing and safety violations during two launches in 2023 prompted Musk to threaten litigation.

After the Federal Aviation Administration planned to fine Elon Musk's defense contractor for issues with two launches last year, SpaceX announced it will sue the agency for "regulatory overreach."

On Tuesday, SpaceX faced fines of $633,000 from the FAA due to alleged non-compliance with licensing and safety regulations during launches. In response, Musk threatened litigation in a post on X.

In July 2023, SpaceX used an "unapproved rocket propellant farm" for its EchoStar XXIV Jupiter mission, and for its launch a month earlier from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, SpaceX had modified its communication plans and used a new and unapproved launch control room, the FAA stated.

On June 16, 2023, two days before the launch, the FAA informed SpaceX that it would not approve a modification to the SpaceX license. Despite this, SpaceX proceeded with the launch.

Neither Musk nor a SpaceX representative promptly provided further details about the nature of the company's grievance when requested.

Musk also commented on X, describing the FAA's recent civil penalties as 'lawfare'.

NASA has entrusted @SpaceX with transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station, but the FAA leadership believes they have a better plan.

The FAA didn't respond to a request for comment.

SpaceX expressed concerns about the challenges that companies encounter in the current regulatory climate, particularly with regards to obtaining licensing for launch and reentry.

In 2022, SpaceX was fined $175,000 by the FAA for not submitting required data before a Falcon 9 launch. The company had paid the fine in full by last October.

In August, the FAA was forced to cancel an approved SpaceX Starship Super Heavy environmental review due to Musk's company's failure to disclose multiple enforcement actions from Texas state and federal environmental authorities.

The FAA's recent civil penalties reveal the agency's challenges in obtaining necessary information from SpaceX before reviewing and authorizing launches and reentries.

The Clean Water Act was repeatedly violated by SpaceX at its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, according to a report by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which also stated that SpaceX failed to obtain proper permits for industrial wastewater discharges.

Musk has also faced opposition from the National Labor Relations Board, with whom he has clashed. He filed a lawsuit alleging that the NLRB's structure is unconstitutional and that its administrative processes violate the principle of separation of powers.

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