California regulators issued an apology to Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, as they settled a lawsuit concerning alleged political bias against the company. The California coastal commission admitted to making 'improper' remarks about Musk's political views during a 2024 hearing regarding SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch program. The settlement, filed in federal court, allows SpaceX to expand its launch schedule from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in southern California without needing a coastal development permit. The commission emphasized that it will not factor in Musk's political beliefs in future regulatory decisions. However, it expressed ongoing concerns about the environmental impacts of increased rocket launches, including public access restrictions and potential harm to coastal habitats. This settlement comes as Musk is involved in a separate court case with Sam Altman, co-founder of OpenAI, which could influence the future of artificial intelligence development.