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US Air Force suspends SpaceX rocket project on Pacific atoll: Report

JOHNSTON ATOLL, JUL 4 – The suspension follows expert concerns about harm to 14 seabird species at the wildlife refuge and prompts the Air Force to seek alternative test sites, officials said.

  • This week, the U.S. Air Force halted its planned collaboration with SpaceX to conduct trials involving the delivery of cargo via hypersonic rockets from Johnston Atoll, a remote area in the Pacific.
  • Environmental concerns raised by biologists about harm to seabirds nesting on the one-square-mile atoll led to the project's suspension and delay of its draft environmental assessment.
  • The suspended initiative aimed to test reusable rocket vehicles capable of transporting up to 100 tons of supplies to any global destination in roughly an hour and a half, with the goal of revolutionizing military supply chains.
  • In April, the U.S. Space Command designated $13.6 billion for military satellite launches over five years, awarding $5.9 billion to SpaceX, with auditors cautioning that existing government launch facilities are outdated and increasingly under pressure from the rising frequency and scale of launches.
  • The suspension raises questions about this high-value contract as the Air Force explores alternative locations, while auditors recommend updated regulations to better fund infrastructure improvements.
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Dothan Eagle broke the news in on Friday, July 4, 2025.
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