SpaceX Faces $175K Fine for Failing to Provide Critical Data to FAA Before Launch
The FAA announced on Friday that it is proposing a $175,000 fine against SpaceX for failing to provide critical data about the trajectory of a Falcon 9 rocket prior to its launch last August.
The data helps evaluate the probability of a rocket colliding with objects tracked in orbit, and the company had to provide this data at least seven days before the launch.
The FAA licenses all rocket launches in the United States and is responsible for ensuring the safety of all spacecraft and objects in orbit.
SpaceX has 30 days to respond to the proposed fine.
This is not the first time SpaceX has been at odds with the FAA.
In 2020, the agency found SpaceX in violation of launch regulations for allowing a prototype of the company's giant Starship rocket to lift off without approval of key data involving the vehicle's potential blast radius.
In 2021, the FAA revised SpaceX commercial launch requirements to mandate that an FAA safety inspector be present for every flight at its Boca Chica launch facility after the FAA said the company violated license requirements for a Starship launch.
The FAA and the space industry have been discussing ways to better integrate rocket launches into aviation corridors, which are also used by the commercial airline industry.
SpaceX has previously stated that it is committed to safe practices across its operations, which include launching payloads and crew members and deploying thousands of Starlink satellites to Earth's orbit.
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