The occupants are NASA astronauts, and SpaceX was hired by NASA to carry them so it’s a clear case of public interest, IMHO. Also if they did bill them NASA would just get the bill and probably marked up.
> Also if they did bill them NASA would just get the bill and probably marked up.
It's a fixed cost contract, while SpaceX might push back on accepting the bill in the first place, they are unlikely to be able to redirect it to NASA if they choose to accept the bill.
Of course, I would expect to see this cost reflected in all future contracts they and anyone else signs with NASA.
That pretty well is the law of the high seas isn't it? Remember seeing a video a few years back of a private security force shooting at pirate ships from the deck of a cargo ship. Although as soon as I wrote that, I realize that's outside of territorial waters in international areas.
The US Train system sports the only US based private security that has full arrest authority. Maritime law is a bit of a special case and falls under international treaties.
Does the US Navy or Coast Guard have the legal ability to bill private companies for those kinds of services?
Government agencies can only impose fees and charges on private entities where those are authorised (directly or indirectly) by legislation. And agencies have far greater discretion to make contracts in which they are the customer than those in which they are the vendor. The later kind of contracts generally need approval at a far more senior level than the former (in some cases even requiring approval by the legislature).
If they have to get involved, IMO, they should send SpaceX the bill.