The U.S. Air Force has partnered with SpaceX to choose Johnston Atoll, a distant territory in the Pacific, as the Rocket Cargo Vanguard program’s test location, but experts warn that the SpaceX Rocket Cargo Plan may threaten Pacific seabirds inhabiting the atoll. Situated around 800 miles (1,300 km) southwest of Hawaii, the atoll is a component of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument and a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge.

The goal of the project is to create hypersonic rocket re-entry vehicles that can transport up to 100 tons of cargo within 90 minutes to any location on Earth. Over four years, ten rockets will be re-landed, and two landing pads will be built as part of the testing.

As mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act, the Air Force and SpaceX are developing an environmental assessment for public input. The Air Force recognizes possible hazards to migratory birds but says the initiative is not likely to cause serious harm.

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Threats to Seabird Populations

Approximately one million seabirds of 14 species, including great frigatebirds, red-tailed tropicbirds, and red-footed boobies, call Johnston Atoll home. These populations have recovered from the few thousand that existed in the 1980s, thanks to conservation initiatives.

Experts caution that rocket landings may disturb nesting birds. Ryan Rash, a biologist who lived on the atoll for over a year, observed that noise from launches could drive birds away from their nests, resulting in population decreases. Eric Baker, a wildlife volunteer, voiced concerns that the project would reverse years of conservation efforts.

Conservation Challenges and Historical Context

The effect of humans on Johnston Atoll is longstanding. Up until the 1970s, it housed chemical weapons like Agent Orange and was utilized for nuclear testing in the late 1950s. After being cleaned up by the Air Force in 2004, it has served as a seabird refuge ever since.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association‘s president, Desirée Sorenson-Groves, stressed the value of preserving the atoll, referring to it as one of the last remaining seabird refuges. Conservationists are particularly alarmed as the SpaceX Rocket Cargo Plan may threaten Pacific seabirds, potentially undoing decades of rehabilitation work.

Legal issues resulted from the destruction of protected shorebird nests during a SpaceX Starship launch in Boca Chica, Texas. Experts worry that seabird populations in Johnston Atoll may suffer a similar fate as testing is scheduled to begin this year.

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