SpaceX - Kivo Daily

Introduction to the Lawsuit and Allegations

The lawsuit, initiated by the DOJ, accuses SpaceX of discriminatory hiring practices targeting refugees and those with asylum status. The legal action is grounded in the assertion that between 2018 and 2022, SpaceX inaccurately asserted that export control regulations limited its hiring scope exclusively to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

The DOJ’s involvement in this matter traces back to June 2020 when a complaint was lodged by a non-U.S. citizen with the department’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section. This complaint marked the onset of an investigation that would bring to light concerning practices within the company.

The Findings of the Investigation

The investigation conducted by the DOJ revealed disconcerting trends within SpaceX’s hiring practices. According to Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, the inquiry exposed instances where SpaceX had not provided fair consideration to asylees and refugees due to their citizenship status. This contravened federal law, as the investigation unveiled that the company had essentially imposed a de facto ban on hiring individuals of this category, regardless of their qualifications.

Kristen Clarke further stated that the investigation brought to light instances where SpaceX recruiters and high-level officials took actions that discouraged asylees and refugees from seeking employment opportunities within the organization. This suggests systemic issues that warrant attention.

Data and Statistic Insights

Data furnished by SpaceX itself played a pivotal role in the investigation. The DOJ highlighted that, during a span of nearly four years encompassing over 10,000 hires, only a single individual with asylee status was employed by the company. Remarkably, this hire occurred approximately four months subsequent to the DOJ commencing its investigation.

Implications and Legal Proceedings

SpaceX’s response to the lawsuit remains pending. Notably, the lawsuit was filed in the Executive Office for Immigration Review, a division of the DOJ responsible for adjudicating immigration-related cases. The lawsuit carries significant objectives, including seeking fair consideration and back pay for asylees and refugees who may have been deterred or denied employment due to the alleged discrimination. Additionally, the DOJ aims to secure civil penalties and prompt policy adjustments within the company.

Broader Context and Historical Background

This lawsuit isn’t the first time SpaceX’s hiring practices have come under scrutiny. In 2021, the DOJ’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section expressed concerns about SpaceX’s cooperation with a subpoena issued in the context of an investigation. The DOJ sought documents related to the company’s hiring procedures. SpaceX had previously petitioned to dismiss the subpoena, arguing it exceeded the scope of the DOJ’s authority. However, this petition was ultimately rejected.

The origins of the DOJ’s investigation can be traced to a complaint from Fabian Hutter, an individual not holding U.S. citizenship, who alleged discrimination during a job interview for a technical strategy associate position. Interestingly, SpaceX revealed in response to a 2021 DOJ subpoena that Hutter is a “lawful permanent [U.S.] resident holding dual citizenship from Austria and Canada.”

Navigating the Allegations and Their Impact

As the legal process unfolds, the allegations against SpaceX bring to light important considerations regarding fair hiring practices and inclusivity within the workforce. The outcome of this lawsuit will not only have implications for the company but will also serve as a pivotal moment in addressing broader issues surrounding employment discrimination against refugees and asylum recipients. It remains imperative to uphold principles of fairness and equal opportunity in the ever-evolving landscape of modern workplaces.

SpaceX fails to make orbit but remains a successful launch

Scarlet Logan on April 24, 2023

SpaceX — SpaceX is a private American aerospace company founded by Elon Musk in 2002 with the goal of making space travel more accessible and affordable.

The company designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the aim of colonizing Mars and making humans a multiplanetary species.

One of its most notable accomplishments is the development of the reusable Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, which have been used to deliver cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station.

SpaceX’s ultimate goal is to create spaceships capable of transporting people to the Moon, Mars, and other planets, making human exploration and colonization of other worlds a reality.

Failure to launch

On Thursday, SpaceX waited to see Starship, the company’s latest project, take off.

Although the massive stainless steel vessel took off from its launch site at Boca Chica, Texas, it failed to make orbit.

According to SpaceflightNow.com’s Stephen Clark, around five of its 33 Raptor engines didn’t fire during lift-off.

The rocket managed to clear the launch tower and shoot for the sky.

However, the spacecraft failed to detach from the Super Heavy booster before the vessel started spinning.

Eventually, Starship fell apart in what is technically known as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”

The massive launching system stood at 394 feet tall (120 meters), which towered higher than the Statue of Liberty in New York City.

“The vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the flight test, lost altitude, and began to tumble,” SpaceX said in an update.

“The flight termination system was commanded on both the booster and ship.”

The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement on Thursday afternoon, saying:

“An anomaly occurred during the ascent and prior to stage separation resulting in a loss of the vehicle. No injuries or public property damage have been reported.”

“The FAA will oversee the mishap investigation of the Starship/Super Heavy test mission.”

“A return to flight of the Starship/Super Heavy vehicle is based on the FAA determining that any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety.”

“This is standard practice for all mishap investigations.”

One step forward

While it failed to hit orbit, Starship’s successful takeoff indicated a step forward in the United States goal to achieve space travel.

SpaceX foresees the vessel as a key link in a manned mission to help humans one day reach Mars.

Furthermore, the lift-off set a new record for being the largest rocket to ever launch.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tempered expectations before the lift-off, saying:

“Success is not what should be expected… that would be insane.”

Following the explosion, the company tweeted:

“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multi-planetary.”

Meanwhile, Musk congratulated members of the team for the “exciting” test launch, saying they learned enough for the next test launch.

“I don’t want to jinx it, but I think we are highly likely to reach orbit this year and recover the booster and ship, if not this year, certainly next year,” he wrote in an email to employees.

“Mars, here we come!”

Another attempt

In anticipation of the next test launch, SpaceX would need to obtain a launch license from the FAA.

The company believes it won’t be as troublesome as it was for the Thursday launch.”

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson also seemed enthusiastic, congratulating the team for the flight test.

‘Every great achievement throughout history has demanded some level of calculated risk, because with great risk comes great reward,” Nelson tweeted.

‘Looking forward to all that SpaceX learns, to the next flight test — and beyond.”

Tag: SpaceX

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