Pacific island wildlife refuge spared from SpaceX rocket project
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. The Department of the Air Force’s confirmation, first provided to Stars and Stripes, came ahead of a planned environment assessment and amid mounting pressure from conservationists. Despite a nearly century-long background that includes nuclear and chemical weapons testing and storage, the atoll remains a home for 14 tropical bird species as part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. “The Department of the Air Force has elected to hold the preparation of the Johnston Atoll Environmental Assessment for a proposed rocket cargo landing demonstration on Johnston Atoll in abeyance while the service explores alternative options for implementation,” Air Force spokesperson Laurel Falls said in the email. Johnston Atoll has served as a base for numerous US military operations for over 90 years. Located...