SpaceX launches Jupiter 3 for Hughes Network Systems in a July 28 Falcon Heavy mission. Photo: SpaceX

SpaceX sent a letter to Congress this week taking issue with the speed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is able to approve licensing materials, after the FAA proposed $633,009 in civil penalties against SpaceX. 

The FAA proposed the fines on Sept. 17, saying that SpaceX failed to follow its license requirements during two launches in 2023 – for using new launch control room at Cape Canaveral and for using unapproved rocket propellant farm for the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission in 2023. 

SpaceX then sent a letter to members of the House Committee on Science, Space & Technology and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, arguing that SpaceX gave the FAA’s Office of Space Transportation (AST) notice for the “relatively minor” license updates, and AST was not able to review them in time.  

“It has been clear for some time that AST lacks the resources to timely review licensing materials, mistakenly focuses its limited resources on areas unrelated to public safety regulatory scope and has been unsuccessful in modernizing and streamlining its regulations,” David Harris, SpaceX vice president of legal, said in the letter. 

SpaceX provided its own account of the details of the incidents the civil penalties deal with, and said the company is “absolutely committed” to safety in all operations. 

“For well over a year now, SpaceX has voiced its concerns with the FAA’s inability to keep pace with the commercial space industry and the needs of U.S. government agencies that rely on commercial space launch capability for national security and national priorities,” Harris wrote.