Environmental & Energy
Mar. 17, 2025
Federal judge allows SpaceX to expand retaliation claims against Coastal Commission
The rocket company alleges that commission members unlawfully denied a petition to expand launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base due to their political bias against owner Elon Musk. While the Air Force ultimately approved the project, the court is allowing SpaceX to provide more evidence showing economic harm from the commission's actions.
A federal judge on Friday allowed SpaceX to strengthen its retaliation claims against the California Coastal Commission after finding the company's initial pleadings did not sufficiently prove how the alleged wrongdoing caused a legitimate harm.
The primary claim of the case is that the commission's members - during an October hearing last year - exceeded its authority and unlawfully voted to deny SpaceX's petition to increase rocket launch activity at Vandenberg Air F...
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