Eight former engineers from SpaceX have filed a lawsuit against the space exploration firm and its CEO, Elon Musk, accusing them of retaliatory termination after raising concerns about the treatment of female workers.

The lawsuit, filed in California on Wednesday, asserts that Musk personally ordered their dismissals following their internal circulation of a letter that criticized Musk's sexually explicit comments on social media.

The suit claims Musk oversees a “pervasively sexist culture” at SpaceX, likening it to an “Animal House” environment where female employees are judged by their bra sizes and subjected to sexual jokes.

Among the cited evidence are Musk's comments on his social network, such as a post to former YouTube CEO Chad Hurley, “If you touch my wiener, you can have a horse”.

Anne B Shaver, representing the plaintiffs, stated, “SpaceX management knowingly allowed and even fostered an environment full of sexual harassment.”

Shaver went on, “Terminating employees for calling out SpaceX's failure to prevent sexual harassment is undoubtedly retaliatory, unjust, and legally actionable.”

Paige Holland-Thielen, one of the plaintiffs, remarked in a statement from her lawyers that the lawsuit represents a significant step in their pursuit of justice.

“We hope this legal action will encourage our colleagues to maintain their resolve and continue advocating for a better work environment,” she said.

The plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, along with an order to prevent SpaceX from engaging in unlawful practices.

SpaceX has yet to comment on the matter.

Previously, the former employees filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging violations of US labor laws by SpaceX.

Last month, the NLRB informed a federal judge in Texas that it would hold off on its case against SpaceX to hasten a final verdict in a separate lawsuit by the company, which contends that the agency's structure and procedures are unconstitutional.