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millionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing California board members of political bias for blocking the company from launching more rockets from military facilities in the state.
SpaceX was sued The California Coastal Commission is seeking a court ruling that would prevent the agency from regulating SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launch program at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara. The Air Force is proposing to increase the number of launches SpaceX can conduct at the base from 36 to 50.
The complaint alleges that the state commission, which oversees land and water use along more than 1,000 miles of California’s coastline, improperly granted regulatory authority over SpaceX launches based on the commission’s disapproval of Musk’s political views. He claims that he made the claim.
The commission said at an Oct. 10 hearing that SpaceX’s commercial space launches are not federal activities and therefore fall under the commission’s coastal permitting authority. SpaceX said commissioners displayed “blatant and shocking political bias” during the hearing, voting 6-4 against increasing the number of SpaceX launches from the base.
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SpaceX has sued the California Coastal Commission for alleged political bias against founder and CEO Elon Musk. (Photo by Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The company’s lawsuit cites Secretary Caryl Hart’s comments, saying, “What is concerning is the increase in SpaceX’s launches, not the increase in the number of other companies’… … whose top executives are actively committing themselves to space exploration.” presidential election And made it clear what his point of view was. ”
Other committee members made similar comments. In the complaint, Secretary Gretchen Newsom said Musk “has been flying around the country spewing political falsehoods and tweeting and attacking FEMA while claiming to want to provide free aid to hurricane victims.” I’m telling you. Access to Starlink On the internet. ”
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SpaceX has used Vandenberg Space Force Base for commercial and national security space launches. (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Commissioner Mike Wilson noted that SpaceX’s Starlink is “one of the most extensive communications networks on the planet,” and that Musk has recently been “talking about political retaliation on the national stage.”
Secretary Jason Cummings added that he shared some of Wilson’s concerns, saying, “We’re all trying to operate in this apolitical realm, but the people who control these companies are making sure that they’re doing what’s in their best interests.” “We know that they have sufficient authority not to do so.” Our allies, we’re up for it. ”
SpaceX’s lawsuit also pushed back against commissioners who justified their decision by saying some of the company’s launches at the base were commercial and not related to space exploration. national security.
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SpaceX’s superheavy booster landed during SpaceX Starship’s fifth flight test in Boca Chica, Texas, on October 13, 2024. (Reuters/Kayley Greenlee Beal/Reuters Photo)
Because the company is one of only two companies serving the National Security Space Launch Program, it must share data on all launches, commercial or otherwise, with the federal government for mission assurance purposes. He said it would not be possible. Commercial release Until the launch of the national security field.
The complaint alleges that the commission violated Musk’s constitutional free speech rights by considering his political comments in its decisions, obstructed national security operations at the base, and acted outside the commission’s authority. They accused him of overstepping his legal authority by trying to regulate federal lands.
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of California Coastal Commission He declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Reuters contributed to this report.
