“Current military modes of transportation require days to weeks of planning,” the Air Force noted.
The U.S. Air Force has paused plans to test hypersonic rocket cargo delivery with Elon Musk’s SpaceX at Johnston Atoll, following environmental concerns raised by experts and conservationists.
As reported by Stars and Stripes, the decision comes after Reuters revealed that the remote Pacific island—home to 14 tropical bird species—was at risk. Johnston Atoll is a National Wildlife Refuge under U.S. Air Force control, located 800 miles southwest of Hawaii.
A petition against the plan gathered over 3,800 signatures. Initially, the Air Force promised an environmental assessment but has now opted to seek alternative test sites.
The proposed program would use commercial rockets to deliver up to 100 tons of cargo globally within 90 minutes. “Current military modes of transportation require days to weeks of planning,” the Air Force said.
SpaceX has previously faced criticism for environmental damage, including a 2023 rocket launch that destroyed bird nests in Texas. Musk jokingly vowed to avoid omelets for a week in response.