SpaceX To Be Fined For Violating Safety Regulations; Where Is Elon Musk’s Blunt Management Rules Leading in 2023?
An FAA spokesperson has mentioned that the Starlink satellite that was launched last year did not follow analysis data about the collision-related probabilities in orbit before the satellite’s launch. The data was required by the agency.
The aviation safety regulator had proposed to fine SpaceX 175000 USD for the failure of the company to provide launch-related data before a satellite mission was conducted last year. It has been stated from valid sources.
The penalty is considered the first of its kind by the Federal Aviation Administration, which has sought SpaceX.
The data has been shared by the spokesperson of the FAA. SpaceX has launched hundreds of rocket flights over the years, which includes 61 of those in 2022, according to data. The founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, has talked about the company having established launching rockets that would orbit 100 times.
Elon Musk’s casualty in handling the safety regulations of SpaceX is not a new phenomenon:
An FAA spokesperson has mentioned that the Starlink satellite that was launched last year did not follow analysis data about the collision-related probabilities in orbit before the satellite’s launch. The data was required by the agency. He mentioned that FAA secured the data later.
The spokesperson for Space Exploration Technologies has denied commenting on the matter. According to valid sources, the company has 30 days to respond to the Federal Aviation Administration after receiving the enforcement letter. They may contest the mentioned penalty. It has been stated by FAA.
SpaceX has mentioned that the company follows safe practices in its different operations, which involve the launch of payloads and crew members responsible for the flight of the rockets and deploying thousands of Starlink satellites to orbit near the earth’s trajectory.
The company posted on its website last year that SpaceX has demonstrated commitment to space safety through different actions, investing in integral resources that involve the launch vehicles, spacecraft, and satellites to meet or exceed the present safety regulations and best safety practices.
The FAA is responsible for licensing commercial space launches and re-entries. The officials from the FAA and the space industry have been in discussion to integrate the numbers of rocket launches- which involve the locations of Florida, Virginia, and California- into different aviation industries that can be used by the commercial aviation industry.
Starlink has been developing new launch services. It is testing a new satellite that will allow users to connect from almost anywhere in the world. They have renamed it a global roaming service and stated that it would cost the users 200 JUSD for the rollout of the Starlink Kit. Presently, the space company is seeking for its regulatory approval n different regions like India, Pakistan, and Cambodia, while the services are completely unavailable to other countries.
Previously in 2020, the FAA held SpaceX accountable for the violation of launch regulations to enable a prototype of the company’s giant starship rocket to fly without any security approval of the integral data involving the vehicle’s potential blast radius to cover.
Furthermore, FAA has revised the charges on SpaceX commercial launch requirements to make it mandatory for an FAA inspector to be present at every flight at the Boca Chica launch facility after FAA declared that the company had violated the requirements of license before the launch.
It is not the first time that SpaceX has violated the protocol for the launch of its rocket satellites. The firings by
Elon Musk in SpaceX has violated U.S. labor laws, according to valid sources. It has been stated that the fired employees may even approach the National Labor relations Board to sue the company for unfair layoffs. The reports have even called out that the space company may have to call out the fired employees with back pay.
The constant violation of laws by Elon Musk has shown his brutal management style. The aerospace firm had to pay 250,000 USD for a sexual misconduct claim by a flight attendant. The attendant worked as a cabin crew on a contractual basis for SpaceX’s corporate jet fleet.
In addition, the Chinese space engineers have accused SpaceX’s Starlink satellites of violating the regulations that govern the lower-earths orbital traffic, and the company has threatened China with losing relations with the U.S. if they do not drop the suit.
Starlink was involved in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The former has supported Ukraine’s internet connections during the war with Russia, which has raised concerns for Chinese Scientists. SpaceX has planned to provide internet connectivity to civilians and the military. The Chinese government has looked into it with a suspicious perspective.
Edited by Prakriti Arora
