SpaceX, the aerospace company led by Elon Musk, has filed a federal lawsuit against a California commission that blocked its proposal to increase rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The commission cited Musk’s history of controversial statements on social media, alleging that his political views influenced their decision, rather than any legitimate environmental concerns.
The lawsuit aims to challenge the commission’s regulatory authority, claiming that its actions are politically motivated.
In its legal filing in Los Angeles, SpaceX seeks to prevent the California Coastal Commission from overseeing its Falcon 9 rocket launch operations.
The suit asserts that the commission’s rejection of the proposed increase in launches—from 36 to 50 annually—was rooted in bias against Musk’s political statements rather than addressing any real environmental issues.
Lawsuit challenges regulatory authority as SpaceX aims to increase Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg.The company argues that such actions violate its constitutional rights and constitute overreach by a state agency that lacks jurisdiction over national security matters.
The commission had expressed discontent with Musk’s political engagements, including his support for Donald Trump and vocal criticisms of various governmental agencies.
During a meeting on October 10, commissioner Gretchen Newsom commented on Musk’s “political falsehoods,” suggesting that commercial space activities should not be subjected to state regulatory frameworks.
The commission voted narrowly against allowing more launches, highlighting their stance that these activities fall outside federal authority.
Despite the ongoing controversy, SpaceX has been launching rockets from California since 2013 and has established itself as a significant player in commercial and government space operations.
With the U.S. Air Force backing the increase in launches, citing compliance with coastal agency regulations, the outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for SpaceX’s operations and the broader landscape of commercial space exploration.