You are correct JoeDB. This situation is a mix of regulatory pressure, corporate influence, and safety. The FAA’s job is to keep the skies safe, but if staff fear losing their jobs for questioning SpaceX, then we in a heap of trouble (The Independent).
The recent Starship explosion may not be tied to this, but it’s a sharp reminder that SpaceX’s “move fast, fix later” approach is risky business. Rushed approvals and overlooked concerns could lead to disaster (Reuters).
At the end of the day, it’s a tug-of-war between ambition and accountability, and right now reckless speed seems to be the driver at the expense of caution, safety, or proper procedure.