SpaceX, Elon Musk’s ambitious space exploration company, has launched a public attack on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over its handling of Starship launch approvals. The company, in a letter addressed to U.S. House of Representatives member Kevin Kiley, vehemently refuted claims made by FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker regarding safety violations and accused the agency of lacking the necessary resources to effectively oversee commercial spaceflight licensing.
The dispute centers around the FAA’s decision to delay the next launch of SpaceX’s Starship launch vehicle. In a House Transportation Committee hearing, Whitaker defended the delay, citing safety concerns and highlighting a $633,000 fine proposed against SpaceX earlier this month for alleged regulatory violations during Falcon launch missions.
However, SpaceX strongly countered these claims, stating that the company was fully licensed for the Falcon launches and that the FAA has not presented any evidence to the contrary. Regarding Starship, SpaceX argued that the two specific concerns raised by the FAA, namely sonic boom and environmental impact, had already been evaluated and deemed inconsequential.
Furthermore, SpaceX expressed frustration over the agency’s alleged favoritism towards Boeing, noting that the FAA has been focusing on minor issues with SpaceX while neglecting potentially serious safety concerns at Boeing. Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, took to Twitter to voice his discontent, stating that the FAA’s actions are “deeply wrong” and “put human lives at risk.”
With Starship already built and ready to fly, Musk highlighted the delays in receiving FAA approvals, which are now pushing the next test flight to November. SpaceX has expressed its willingness to cooperate with the FAA and work towards safe and successful launches, but it is clear that the company is increasingly frustrated with the agency’s approach to commercial spaceflight regulation.
