Elon Musk gets an apology from California regulators as a SpaceX lawsuit is settled

California regulators have apologized to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk as part of a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed the California Coastal Commission showed political bias against the company. The commission acknowledged that its members made 'improper' statements about Musk's political beliefs at a 2024 hearing on SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch program. SpaceX had sued the commission over its opposition to expanding the launch schedule for Falcon 9 rockets from the Vandenberg Space Force Base. The commission agreed not to consider irrelevant factors, including political beliefs, in performing its function regarding SpaceX. The case will be permanently dismissed, and the commission won't require a coastal development permit for SpaceX's launch program in the state. The settlement doesn't constitute an admission of liability or unlawful conduct by either party.