“Enough is enough!”: Elon Musk and SpaceX bang their fists on the table. They attack the American government for unfavorable treatment of Boeing

JVTech News “Enough is enough!”: Elon Musk and SpaceX bang their fists on the table. They attack the American government for unfavorable treatment of Boeing

Unfavorable treatment towards Boeing

In a tweet posted on September 19, 2024, Musk said that SpaceX had expressed concerns for nearly two years regarding the FAA’s inability to keep pace with the commercial space industry. He added that the agency clearly lacks the resources to quickly review licensing applications, but instead devotes its limited resources to areas unrelated to public safety. “These distractions continue to directly threaten national priorities and undermine the ability of American industry to innovate,” he said.

FAA executives are spending their resources attacking SpaceX over petty issues that have nothing to do with safety, while ignoring the real safety issues at Boeing. This is deeply unfair and puts human lives at risk.

The tweet followed a press release issued by SpaceX the same day, in which the company accused the FAA of “intentionally delaying” the Starship launch and imposing “unnecessary and arbitrary requirements.” SpaceX also accused the FAA of “prioritizing non-safety considerations.”

The press release states that the FAA imposed three additional requirements on SpaceX:

• An update to Starship’s launch procedure, not directly related to public safety
• The requirement for additional safety verification of the launch site, which had already been approved by the FAA
• The requirement for additional launch site safety analysis, which was not necessary, according to SpaceX

For SpaceX, the FAA had also refused to approve a license application for the use of its RP-1 fuel farm needed to launch Starship, saying the farm did not meet FAA requirements. However, SpaceX claimed that this fuel farm had already been approved by the agency.

In other words, SpaceX is complaining about not being treated properly with the goal of slowing down its development. Although this would not really make sense given that NASA, a government agency, has become dependent on SpaceX. Another government regulatory agency therefore has no real interest in deliberately slowing down development. Especially since NASA is worried that the Artemis project (to land the Starship rocket on the Moon) is being delayed.

Private versus public

SpaceX’s criticism of the FAA has highlighted a growing conflict between the agency and the commercial space industry. The FAA is responsible for regulating commercial space launches, but the company criticizes the agency for bureaucracy and delays, saying they hurt innovation and growth in the industry.

The incident also highlights the critical role the FAA plays in the future of space exploration. As the commercial space industry grows, government agencies and private companies are increasingly reliant on the FAA to ensure the safety and sustainability of space launches. The FAA’s funding must be increased to keep pace with private aviation and space companies. SpaceX isn’t alone in waiting for regulatory decisions.

The future of the commercial space industry depends largely on the FAA’s ability to adapt to technological advances and create a regulated environment that encourages innovation while ensuring safety. FAA-SpaceX Conflict Could Have Major Consequences for the future of space exploration and the agency’s role in regulating this growing industry. It is important to note that the FAA has not yet issued an official statement on the Starship launch blockade. However, it is likely that this case will spark intense public and political debate about the FAA’s role in the U.S. space industry and the need to reform its regulatory processes.