SpaceX faces $663K FAA fine for Musk's alleged launch impatience
- Reference: 1726594211
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/09/17/faa_spacex_fine_proposed/
- Source link:
The proposed penalties are for two incidents a couple of months apart that, from what the FAA's [1]press release suggests, make it look like Musk just didn't want to wait for FAA approval to use new launch facilities, so SpaceX used them without the okay to do so.
In one instance, the June launch of an Indonesian communications satellite was handled from a launch control room at Hangar X, which SpaceX had requested FAA approval for only a month earlier. However, the FAA had not granted approval by the June 18 launch date.
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Additionally, SpaceX informed the FAA it intended to skip the mandatory T-minus 2-hour readiness poll in its launch preparations and proceeded without conducting it, despite this being an FAA requirement. These two violations together resulted in a $350,000 penalty, according to the agency.
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The other incident, involving the July launch of the EchoStar XXIV satellite, saw SpaceX employ a similar apply-but-don't-wait tactic. This time, the issue was a newly constructed rocket propellant farm at Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX had submitted a request to revise its explosive site plan in July but went ahead and used the unapproved propellant farm for the EchoStar XXIV launch on July 28. For this violation, the administration is proposing a $283,009 fine.
Starlink's airline fleet grows
By signing a deal with United Airlines last week, SpaceX has expanded the number of aircraft with Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi to 2,500 aircraft.
Nick Galano, SpaceX director of Starlink aviation sales and partnerships, said that the deal nearly doubled the backlog of Starlink Wi-Fi orders SpaceX had to fill, with deals also outstanding with Hawaiian Airlines, Qatar Airways, and several other airlines from around the world.
United aircraft outfitted with Starlink Wi-Fi won't charge customers for access, unlike other Wi-Fi services available on aircraft, CNBC [5]reported . It'll take some time for the systems to be deployed, however, as each retrofit of an aircraft with Starlink antennas takes an aircraft out of service for several days.
"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 Nichols said of the proposed fines. "Failure of a company to comply with the safety requirements will result in consequences."
[6]SpaceX tries to wash away Texas pollution allegations
[7]FAA gives SpaceX a bunch of homework to do before Starship flies again
[8]Shots fired as AT&T and Verizon ask FCC to block Starlink's direct-to-cell plans
[9]Elon Musk's assassination 'joke' bombs, internet calls for his deportation
Musk and the FAA regularly do battle with regards to SpaceX's operations. Starship, Musk's troubled super spacecraft, has been grounded for months, earning the [10]billionaire's ire , and the firm's Falcon 9 workhorse has been grounded several times this year, both [11]in relation to Starship bugbears and due to [12]its own failures .
As a private company, it's not clear how much money SpaceX actually makes, though recent estimates have put the rocket maker's 2023 profits at [13]around $55 million from $1.5 billion in revenue. Whether SpaceX will even bother to appeal so small a penalty is unclear.
We've reached out to the FAA and SpaceX for comment, but haven't heard back. ®
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Don't forget: [15]Trump taps Musk to lead 'government efficiency' task force
Get our [16]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-proposes-633009-civil-penalties-against-spacex
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Zun8ArA7mVza7KZjFwitqwAAAoM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Zun8ArA7mVza7KZjFwitqwAAAoM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Zun8ArA7mVza7KZjFwitqwAAAoM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/17/spacexs-starlink-has-2500-aircraft-under-contract.html
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/13/spacex_snaps_back_over_texas/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/27/faa_closes_spacex_mishap_investigation/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/16/att_verizon_starlink/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/16/calls_to_deport_elon_musk/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/11/spacex_starship_red_tape/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/15/spacex_faa_probe/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/30/spacex_falcon_9_failure/
[13] https://www.wsj.com/tech/behind-the-curtain-of-elon-musks-secretive-spacex-revenue-growth-and-rising-costs-2c828e2b
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Zun8ArA7mVza7KZjFwitqwAAAoM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/06/musk_government_efficiency_trump/
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Move launch site out of USA
Can't do National Security launches outside the USA. And despite being privately developed, boosters are considered "Dual Use" munitions (i.e. they could be missiles), so an export permit is... unlikely.
And SpaceX needs the eastern and western ranges to support the launches.
Payback
I wonder how much SpaceX is charging for the change to the next crew mission?
There will now be two spare seats to spare Boeing's and NASA's blushes further. Like all contracts the extra profit is made with "variations". I would bet that the FAA fine is more than covered.
Musk has the upper hand here so the FAA/NASA/Boeing will have to suck it up else those extra astronauts might have to rely on the Russians to bring them home.
Re: Payback
I'm guessing a few $M get added to the costs of a few off-the-books launches for other government customers
Re: Payback
Rent for facilities at Cape Canaveral and Vandenburg Space Force Bases just went up...
The FAA should have power to block all launches till fines are paid.
Does SpaceX pay its fines? Or is it like Twitter, and waits for the bailiffs to show up?
If the latter, then the FAA is dependent on Musk if they want to send bailiffs into orbit to impound some of his satellites...
Re: The FAA should have power to block all launches till fines are paid.
"Does SpaceX pay its fines? Or is it like Twitter, and waits for the bailiffs to show up?"
You title says it all. Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force Base are military installations so SpaceX could easily be locked out of having more than a maintenance crew on site. At minimum, the fines should be put in escrow if SpaceX decides to appeal or they don't get licenses back. I'm sure the Russians would love to take some more US money to add flights to ISS.
There's no point in confiscating Starlink satellites but ground stations.......
Re: The FAA should have power to block all launches till fines are paid.
They could lock him out. But he could move his operation out of the US, and start charging both NASA and the military 10x what he charges them now for launches. He would still be cheaper than the likes of ULA!
My grandfather was the only roofing contractor in a large county. He was the only contractor available for any public (government) buildings. He always told local officials that any fines, parking tickets, etc would have a couple of zeros added to them, and itemized on their next roofing job. I'm not saying he was right to do that; I don't think he was. But, that is the position Musk is in right now.
Should be prison time for musk
that'd teach the arrogant little f*cker to obey the law
Re: Should be prison time for musk
It would certainly help with American innovation in space.
If every unmanned launch needs approval from a dozen local, state and federal agencies and faces legal action from a dozen local, state and federal agencies that will certainly incentivize companies to launch from America rather than India or China
"Safety drives everything we do at the FAA, including a legal responsibility for the safety oversight of companies with commercial space transportation licenses"
No, it really doesn't. These are paperwork issues, all of these launches were perfectly safe. The FAA really needs to be removed from this whole process.
Yawn. Same old BasicReality post.
Government bad
Unions bad
Unregulated Private Enterprise Good.
It's pretty simple really. Follow the constitution and limit the federal government. Most things should be left to the state and local governments. Yes, unions harming companies that provide jobs is generally a bad thing. No, we shouldn't un-regulate everything, but we should cut back severely on the regulations we have. In most cases, they aren't needed.
"These are paperwork issues, all of these launches were perfectly safe."
Really? You've been given access to the technical documentation and have had the chance to do site visits to make sure that everything has been implemented correctly?
Paperwork requiring government sign off is a PIA, no argument there. What has to be done is getting it started well in advance and pushing to get progressive check offs so only a little bit is left to inspect and approve once the work is done and the cleaners have been and gone. Waiting until 30 days before and sending an "unless otherwise directed" missive ala the Rouge Warrior doesn't cut the mustard. Real space companies have departments to deal with this carp.
I file flight plans as soon as I have made a commitment to fly days in advance. I don't wait until the morning of only to find out that if I left an hour before I'd miss a TFR. Since it's campaigning/fund raising season in the US and I'm not too far from a major city, it can be a concern. I can also let a customer know of any issue in advance as well so we can make other arrangements if needed.
"Really? You've been given access to the technical documentation and have had the chance to do site visits to make sure that everything has been implemented correctly?"
Simple common sense, the flights happened, where are the news stories about something going wrong? Nothing happened, other than some idiot at the FAA not being happy over paperwork.
https://schlockmercenary.fandom.com/wiki/The_Seventy_Maxims_of_Maximally_Effective_Mercenaries
43. If it's stupid and it works, it's still stupid and you're lucky.
I'll raise you one Titan submersible. But I'm too late.
The FAA has certainly showed their focus on safety when it comes to their oversight of Boeing!
I'm sorry, they really don't have much credibility with safety these days...
And the next time?
I hope the fines for repeat offences quickly become painfully high otherwise it just broadcasts the FAA’s impotence.
Now I'm feeling nostalgic for the only offline time I had - on a plane.
Nice to see those massive fines issued that'll really lead to changes in policy.....
(they won't they're basically a rounding error on a purchase order)
Move launch site out of USA
If your failures only kill a few 100 foreigners the FAA will support you