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In a candid discussion with Ars Technica, senior officials from SpaceX expressed concerns about the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) impact on the company’s progress.
The officials, who spoke on background, stated that the FAA’s current staffing and operational efficiency are hindering SpaceX’s Starship, Falcon 9, and Dragon programs.
“The FAA needs significantly more people working in its licensing department and should be encouraged to prioritize missions of national importance,” said a SpaceX official. The company revealed that its various programs are competing for FAA reviews, causing delays in the Starship program and jeopardizing the Human Landing System for NASA’s Artemis program.
SpaceX officials also warned of a “trainwreck coming,” citing the FAA’s inability to handle the increasing number of spaceflight providers and activities. “Next year could be a pretty dynamic time with lots of providers in spaceflight,” another official noted. “We just don’t think the FAA is staffed ready to support that.”
William Gerstenmaier, Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability at SpaceX, is set to testify before the US Subcommittee on Space and Science on Wednesday. He will recommend that the FAA double its staffing in the licensing division and be granted “accelerated hiring authority.”
SpaceX also suggested that the FAA could be more efficient by collaborating with other federal agencies like NASA and the US Space Force.
For instance, SpaceX had to seek FAA approval for moving its tank farm at Launch Complex 39A in Florida, even after receiving approval from the Space Force and NASA. “Was this the best use of FAA resources?” questioned the SpaceX officials.
The company is concerned that the current regulatory environment will continue to slow down crucial programs. “Licensing at this point for Starship is a critical path item for the Artemis program, and for our execution,” said one of the SpaceX officials.
SpaceX aims to launch about 90 rockets this year and plans a 50% increase next year. The company is urging Congress to provide guidance to the FAA to operate more efficiently, emphasizing the need for a balance between safety and enabling spaceflight. “Could there be a little bit more emphasis on the enable side?” a SpaceX official suggested.
