
Pacific island wildlife refuge spared from SpaceX rocket project
Andrew Paul
created: July 8, 2025, 4:09 p.m. | updated: July 18, 2025, 3:48 p.m.
Johnston Atoll, an unincorporated US territory and Pacific island wildlife refuge with a complicated military history, is no longer slated to become a SpaceX reusable rocket test site.
Johnston Atoll has served as a base for numerous US military operations for over 90 years.
Now, the US oversees Johnston Atoll similarly to its pre-military days, when it originally functioned as the Johnston Island Reservation.
In March, the Air Force first announced intentions to once again requisition the unincorporated US territory, this time for its Research Laboratory’s Rocket Cargo Vanguard Program.
The Air Force said as part of last week’s update that it now plans to consider alternative sites, which previously included Midway Island, Wake Island, and Kwajalein Atoll.
2 weeks, 5 days ago: Popular Science