Additional Coverage:
SpaceX is suing the California Coastal Commission for allegedly discriminating against the company due to its CEO Elon Musk’s political views.
Phantom Space CEO Jim Cantrell, a former SpaceX employee, supports SpaceX’s lawsuit. He believes the commission’s actions are “anti-competitive” and “un-American.”
Cantrell says Phantom Space, which has received approval for 48 launches annually at Vandenberg Space Force Base, is being treated differently than SpaceX due to Musk’s politics.
SpaceX’s lawsuit alleges that the commission has violated the First and 14th Amendments by basing its decision on Musk’s political beliefs.
Legal experts say SpaceX’s lawsuit could be successful if it can prove that the commission’s decision was influenced by Musk’s politics.