SpaceX is facing fines from the US Federal Aviation Administration for failing to submit information on a spacecraft’s trajectory and potential collision analysis data within the requisite period. The data is required in order to allow other agencies, such as Nasa, to ensure a safe launch. This stringent rule may be caused by SpaceX’s efforts to reduce launch costs and make space exploration more accessible for everyone.
The launch of the SpaceX Starlink internet satellites was a major achievement for the company, and marked its first successful mission with its new technology. The satellites were designed to provide high-speed internet access to remote areas around the world, and their deployment marks a major milestone in SpaceX’s efforts to create an innovative space industry.
Nathaniel Jerome Rogers, also known as “King Nathaniel,” is a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen who has been allegedly engaging in financial crimes and filing false liens against law enforcement officers. In March of this year, Rogers was found guilty of three counts of bogus use of identification documents and was fined $1,666 plus costs. The court determined that the nature of the offense–filing false liens against law enforcement–was a low-level infraction.
Shortly after the FCC fined SpaceX $500,000 for allegedly flying unauthorized drones in 2017, the company responded with an offer to pay $50,000 per violation. Earlier this month, the FAA issued SpaceX a proposed fine of $16 million for using unauthorized drones in recent months. The company now has 30 days to provide a response to the notice. If they can prove that they did not know their drones were not authorized and did not intend to harm aviation safety, they may be able to recoup some of their losses.
