Dominari Financial CEO Analyzes Tesla and Gives Big Tech Earnings Outlook to “Varney & Co.”
Elon Musk’s SpaceX answers the call to help NASA rescue stranded astronauts from the International Space Station despite federal government investigations into the company’s billionaire CEO and his various ventures.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams have remained on the International Space Station since they were sent there by Boeing Starliner spacecraft in June for a mission that was originally expected to last a week.
The Starliner had a helium leak and problems with its thrusters, prompting NASA and Boeing to investigate the problems for weeks before announcing Saturday that the Starliner would make an uncrewed return while the two astronauts will return early next year on a SpaceX Crew mission -9 Dragon. NASA said in a statement that it and SpaceX are working to reconfigure the mission, which is scheduled to launch no earlier than Sept. 24, to accommodate the return of the two astronauts.
The announcement comes after Musk and his companies, including SpaceX, have faced legal and regulatory scrutiny from the federal government in recent years.
Troubled BOEING STARLINER WILL RETURN TO EARTH WITHOUT ASTRONAUTS STANDING: NASA
Musk’s SpaceX is ready to help return NASA astronauts after the space agency chose not to allow them to return on Boeing’s Starliner due to technical issues. (Chesnot/Getty Images/Getty Images)
SpaceX is facing an investigation by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over allegations that the company forced workers to sign illegal severance agreements.
That investigation, however, has been put on hold after the company filed a lawsuit challenging the NLRB’s structure and a federal judge in Texas ruled last month that The SpaceX suit can continue pending an NLRB investigation.
Last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a lawsuit against SpaceXalleging the company engaged in discriminatory hiring of asylum seekers and refugees, claims SpaceX denied, citing export control laws and regulations.
BOEING Vs. SPACEX: WHICH WILL BRING NASA’S STANDING ASTRONAUTS BACK TO EARTH?
Musk has faced several federal investigations and lawsuits related to his business. (Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images/Getty Images)
SpaceX filed a countersuit that challenged the constitutionality of the Justice Department’s administrative judges, arguing that they have executive authority and should be appointed by the president. A federal judge agreed with SpaceX’s claim, putting the DOJ case on hold pending the outcome.
Electric car maker Tesla, of which Musk is the CEO, faces a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation that, according to a Reuters report, centers around claims made about Tesla’s self-driving feature and whether certain statements to that effect misled consumers and investors by falsely believing the cars were self-driving.
SPACEX WINS DISMISSAL OF DOJ CASE ALLEGING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
Musk’s SpaceX faces federal charges of employment discrimination and illegal termination agreements. (Saul Martinez/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The SEC is also investigating the Twitter takeovernow known as X, from a Musk-led ownership group in 2022.
Regulators are looking into whether he violated federal securities laws in the investigation, which the billionaire said amounted to harassment that caused him to miss a deposition last fall that a judge ruled this spring that Musk must attend.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
After the SEC prevailed in its case to compel Musk to participate, in late May he agreed to be questioned by the SEC on an unnamed date and agreed not to appeal the subpoena decision.
Reuters contributed to this report.