The penalties are for alleged failures by SpaceX to adhere to its license requirements during two launches in 2023. The proposed penalties come in line with statutory guidelines for civil penalties.

According to FAA Chief Counsel Marc Nichols, safety is the foremost priority for the agency, and it is legally responsible for ensuring the safety oversight of companies with commercial space transportation licenses. Non-compliance with safety requirements will have consequences, Nichols added.

The first alleged violation occurred in May 2023 when SpaceX submitted a request to modify its communications plan related to its license for launching from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The modifications included the addition of a new launch control room named Hangar X and the elimination of the T-2 hour readiness poll from its procedures. However, on June 18, 2023, SpaceX utilized the unapproved launch control room for its PSN SATRIA mission and failed to carry out the mandatory T-2 hour poll. As a result, the FAA is proposing a civil penalty of $350,000 ($175,000 for each violation).

The second alleged violation occurred in July 2023 when SpaceX submitted a request to revise its explosive site plan linked to its license for launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The proposed revisions were related to the construction of a new rocket propellant farm. However, on July 28, 2023, SpaceX used the unapproved rocket propellant farm during its EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission. For this violation, the FAA is proposing a civil penalty of $283,009.

SpaceX will have a 30-day window to respond to the FAA after receiving the agency's enforcement letters. It remains to be seen how SpaceX will address these allegations and whether the proposed penalties will be modified or enforced.

The FAA's actions demonstrate its commitment to upholding safety regulations and ensuring that companies with commercial space transportation licenses strictly adhere to their license requirements. Non-compliance can lead to severe consequences, underscoring the importance of maintaining rigorous safety measures in the aerospace industry.