Air Force suspends SpaceX project on Pacific atoll

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Today


WASHINGTON >> The U.S. Air Force has suspended plans it had proposed with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to test hypersonic rocket cargo deliveries from a remote Pacific atoll, according to a report this week in Stars and Stripes, an independent publication of the U.S. military.

The suspension came after Reuters reported that biologists and experts said the project would harm many seabirds that nest at the wildlife refuge on the Johnston Atoll, an unincorporated U.S. territory nearly 800 miles southwest of Hawaii.

The Air Force had said it would undertake an environmental assessment of the project, but publication of a draft assessment was delayed after opposition to the plan by environmental groups. The Air Force and SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Air Force is exploring alternative locations for the program, a spokesperson of the military branch told the Stars and Stripes newspaper in a story published Thursday. The program would use commercial rockets, such as those made by SpaceX, although the Air Force has not announced private partners.

Read more: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/07/05/hawaii-news/air-force-suspends-spacex-project-on-pacific-atoll/

[Irish_Dem]

1. What's the real reason.

[wcmagumba]

2. Them Musk machines have inadvertent unscheduled disassembly...

[ananda]

5. LOL. That's certainly one way of putting it.

Maybe the AF just doesn't want to deal with pieces of shit.

[COL Mustard]

9. They go

KABLOOIE!!!!

[Brother Buzz]

3. Elon Musk is officially on the marmalade shartcannon's shit list

[BumRushDaShow]

4. That was my first thought

because certainly 45's appointees don't care about "the environment", let alone "environmental impact studies".

[hlthe2b]

6. Johnston Atoll was subject to nuclear bomb testing and is still somewhat radioactive...

The island has a history of nuclear testing and chemical weapons disposal, resulting in plutonium contamination from failed rocket launches and other incidents. While cleanup efforts have been undertaken, some radioactive materials remain, and the U.S. military still expects to find some impact from its past activities.

So, while there has been considerable rehabilitation, including to flora/fauna, my guess is this is a direct message/retribution to Musk. It is only about 1500 miles from Kwajalein Military Base (Republic of the Marshall Islands)--that likewise had some residual nuclear contamination, which still retains some missile defense functions today. So, I'm thinking Musk is definitely receiving a FU message.

[Red Mountain]

7. It's a long way from a useful option

Big bucks don't always translate to Buck Rogers.

Somebody got realistic. Might have had something to do with the current rift, maybe not.

I'm happy to see some realism from those tasked with making sure we get what we pay for.

[damifino10]

8. Clean up

Has Eloooon paid for the last cleanup that imploded? Are the tax payers resposible? Ef... that shit.

[LudwigPastorius]

10. That land belongs to the citizens of the United States.

If he wants to blast rockets off from the middle of the Pacific, he can tow his droneship platform out there. Or better yet, launch from the ocean itself.

[cynical_idealist]

11. El-on gets his knackers knotted in his knickers

[BidenRocks]

12. Exactly what large cargo needs a Hypersonic delivery?