One Agency Tried to Regulate SpaceX. Now Its Fate Could Be in Elon Musk’s Hands.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been critical of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation .

The office is responsible for licensing commercial rocket launches and ensuring public safety.

It has seen a sixfold increase in launches in the past six years , from 26 in 2019 to 157 last year .

Experts say the pressure is almost certain to grow this year as Musk pursues an aggressive launch schedule.

The $42 million allocated annually to AST is less than 1% of the FAA ’s budget.

Proponents argue the move would help AST get more attention, and potentially resources.

Critics say the FAA needs the resources to hold companies accountable as the industry grows.

The FAA has been accused of being more risk averse than necessary.

A report from the Government Accountability Office found that in the three years before its 2023 review, commercial space launches experienced roughly two dozen mishaps.

The report noted that none of those incidents resulted in fatalities, serious injuries or significant property damage.