SpaceX Sues California Over Rocket Launch Bias

Elon Musk's SpaceX has filed a lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission, accusing it of political bias and unconstitutional overreach for rejecting an increase in Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The lawsuit claims the commission's decision was influenced by Musk's conservative views and support for Donald Trump, violating the First Amendment's protection against discrimination based on political speech. The commission had denied SpaceX's request to increase launches from 36 to 50 annually, citing environmental concerns and Musk's political activities as factors. This legal action highlights the tension between SpaceX's operational ambitions and state regulatory controls, with implications for future Starlink satellite deployments. The commission has not provided an immediate response to the lawsuit, which seeks to prevent the commission from regulating SpaceX's rocket launches.