Aerospace

FAA Proposes $175,000 Fine Against SpaceX.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $175,000 civil penalty against Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX).

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The FAA accused SpaceX in a letter of failing to provide “launch collision avoidance analysis trajectory data” in advance of their August 2022 mission, which involves launching 53 Starlink satellites as part of Starlink Group 4-27 from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX was required to submit the data to the agency at least seven days prior to an attempted launch.

The FAA is seeking a $175,000 civil penalty from SpaceX for failing to submit data before a Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites last year. Per federal regulations, the maximum fine for such a violation is $262,666.https://t.co/g7fhYsTppA

Excerpt from the FAA's letter: pic.twitter.com/oLFTOXMWH2

— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) February 17, 2023

Launch collision analysis trajectory data is used to assess the probability of the launch vehicle colliding with one of the thousands of tracked objects orbiting the Earth.

SpaceX has 30 days to respond to the FAA after receiving the agency’s enforcement letter.

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.