Elon Musk’s space company sued regulators in California after officials rejected a request to allow more SpaceX rocket launches, claiming the decision was politically motivated.
In a 284-page lawsuit, filed Tuesday in California’s central district, SpaceX accused regulators of overreaching their authority and violating Musk’s right to free speech.
The lawsuit marks the billionaire’s latest volley in a long-running feud with the Golden State.
The California Coastal Commission, a state agency that regulates development along the state’s coastline, Thursday rejected a request by the U.S. Space Force to give SpaceX permission to launch up to 50 rockets a year from Vandenberg Space Force Base near Santa Barbara, Calif.
Speaking at the meeting, commissioner Gretchen Newsom referenced Musk’s social-media posts about the upcoming presidential election and accused him of spreading falsehoods about Hurricane Helene.
“Right now Elon Musk is hopping about the country, spewing and tweeting political falsehoods and attacking FEMA while claiming his desire to help the hurricane victims with free Starlink access to the internet,” said Newsom, who has no relation to Gov. Gavin Newsom.