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The U.S. military is evaluating Johnston Atoll, a secluded island chain in the Pacific Ocean and a vital sanctuary for numerous seabird species, as a potential location for “two commercial rocket landing pads.” This initiative is part of the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) Rocket Cargo Vanguard program, aimed at testing large cargo rocket landings. However, the proposal is encountering opposition from environmental conservation groups.
Rocket Cargo Program Eyes Pacific Atoll, Prompting Environmental Concerns
The Rocket Cargo Vanguard program is designed to advance technologies for swiftly transporting up to 100 tons of payload anywhere globally using commercial rockets. While not explicitly mentioned, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is currently the only entity – commercial or otherwise – possessing the capability to manufacture rockets engineered for landing and reuse. SpaceX’s Starship heavy-lift launch vehicle is considered the primary candidate for the DAF program. The Air Force detailed its intentions in a Federal Registry announcement last month. The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has voiced objections, potentially impeding the establishment of new landing facilities on the South Pacific atoll.
Johnston Atoll: A Seabird Refuge in Question
Situated approximately 825 miles (1,325 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii, Johnston Atoll is a habitat for diverse seabird species, notably hosting the largest known colony of Red-tailed Tropicbirds. Designated a refuge for indigenous bird populations in 1926, the atoll experienced ecological damage until 2004 due to its utilization by the U.S. military for nuclear and chemical weapon activities. Since the military’s withdrawal, restoration efforts have facilitated a resurgence in Johnston Atoll’s bird population, reaching nearly 1.5 million. Critics now contend that the projected rocket infrastructure could negate decades of ecological restoration.
“Constructing rocket landing pads on Johnston Atoll is incompatible with the preservation of wildlife in this sensitive environment,” asserted Michael Parr, president of ABC, in a public statement. The DAF has indicated that environmental assessments will precede any operational progress, but ABC maintains this is insufficient.
Concerns Over Habitat Disruption and Ecological Risks
The ABC emphasizes that the atoll has become a vital nesting area since the military’s departure in 2004. Seabirds undertake extensive migrations across the open ocean to reach Johnston Atoll, an isolated landmass within over 570,000 square miles of ocean. According to the ABC, this atoll is often the sole landmass encountered by these birds throughout their lives.
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“The proposed frequency of 10 rocket landings annually presents substantial ecological hazards, including dangerous debris, pollution, noise disturbance, and secondary effects from potential malfunctions and detonations,” the ABC statement elaborated. They further cautioned, “Reopening Johnston’s airstrip to aircraft would decimate ground-nesting seabird colonies that have re-established themselves across the entire runway.”
Call for Comprehensive Environmental Impact Study
ABC anticipates the DAF will soon release a Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), but believes this evaluation will underestimate the potential extensive consequences for the region’s avian populations. Instead, they are urging the DAF to conduct a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement “to more accurately evaluate the possible threats posed by this project.”
SpaceX Starship and Environmental Scrutiny
Starship, SpaceX’s latest reusable launch system, is currently the largest and most powerful rocket in development. SpaceX commenced orbital test flights of the Starship in April 2023, demonstrating consistent advancements through eight launches. However, the program has experienced setbacks in its most recent two flights, involving an enhanced iteration of Starship’s upper stage, both of which resulted in unforeseen vehicle losses during ascent.
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— Understanding Starship and Super Heavy
— Is 2025 the Anticipated Year for Starship? SpaceX’s Megarocket Development Progresses.
SpaceX has previously faced environmental oversight concerning its Starbase test facility near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. This location, where Starship is manufactured and launched, is adjacent to designated wildlife conservation areas. Past launches at this site have triggered legal actions and criticisms from environmental advocates.
SpaceX designed Starship for complete reusability, capable of transporting both personnel and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, and ultimately Mars. It is engineered for high-volume, rapid-turnaround space missions and is fundamental to SpaceX’s long-term objective of enabling human interplanetary existence. Beyond its commercial and military applications, NASA has contracted a Starship variant under its Human Landing System (HLS) program to function as a lunar lander for the Artemis Program. This program aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface later this decade, with the first Artemis astronauts slated to land on the Moon during the Artemis 3 mission, projected for no sooner than 2027.