SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has accused the California Coastal Commission of political discrimination after the commission voted to block the rocket company from conducting more launches on the state’s central coast. The lawsuit filed by SpaceX claims that the commission violated Musk’s right to free speech and overstepped its authority by citing Musk’s controversial comments on his social media platform X as a reason for denying the bid. This incident represents one of the first examples of Musk’s controversial presence on social media potentially impacting his other companies.
The US Space Force proposed in September that SpaceX could increase its number of annual rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California from 36 to 50. However, the California Coastal Commission opposed the plan and voted against increasing the launches at a meeting on October 10. SpaceX alleged that commissioners raised concerns unrelated to coastal effects, referencing SpaceX’s employment practices and the use of Musk’s Starlink in global geopolitical conflicts.
SpaceX accused the commission of demonstrating political bias and pointed to statements made by commissioners during the meeting. Commissioner Gretchen Newsom was quoted as criticizing Musk for spreading political falsehoods and attacked FEMA while claiming to want to help hurricane victims with free Starlink access to the internet. Musk has a history of endorsing former President Donald Trump for reelection and posting rumors and false claims about the federal government’s response to disasters. He has also promoted racist conspiracy theories and questioned the lack of assassination attempts on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The lawsuit filed by SpaceX also argues that rocket launches at the Vandenberg base are federally regulated activities and not subject to approval from state regulators like the coastal commission. The company is seeking a ruling from the judge confirming this claim as well as monetary damages. The California Coastal Commission declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted by CNN. The incident highlights the complex interactions between Musk’s controversial statements on social media and the operation of his other businesses, including SpaceX’s rocket launches from the Vandenberg base.
Overall, Musk’s involvement in spreading conspiratorial comments and false claims on social media has raised concerns and led to potential consequences for his companies. The lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission sheds light on the impact of Musk’s controversial statements on SpaceX’s operations and the intricate relationship between politics and business in the space industry. The outcome of the lawsuit and any rulings made by the court will likely have implications for SpaceX’s launch activities in California and the regulatory oversight of rocket launches in the state.
