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FAA wants to fine SpaceX $633,000 for alleged safety violations during 2 Florida launches

SpaceX faces $633,000 in fines for alleged safety violations during two Florida launches last year

Marcia Dunn
Tuesday 17 September 2024 18:08 BST
SpaceX FAA Fines
SpaceX FAA Fines (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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SpaceX faces $633,000 in fines for alleged safety violations during two Florida launches last year.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday itā€™s proposing the civil penalties because of the company's alleged failure to follow licensing requirements.

During a satellite launch in June 2023, SpaceX used a new launch control room without prior approval and also did not conduct the required readiness poll two hours in advance, according to the FAA.

One month later, SpaceX launched another communication satellite using a new rocket fuel facility yet to be approved, said federal regulators.

ā€œSafety drives everything we do at the FAA" including oversight of commercial space, FAA's Marc Nichols said in a statement. ā€œFailure of a company to comply with the safety requirements will result in consequences.ā€

SpaceX has 30 days to respond to the FAA. It did not immediately return a request for comment.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Instituteā€™s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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