A proposed hypersonic rocket cargo testing initiative by SpaceX and the U.S. Air Force at a remote Pacific atoll has raised alarms among conservationists, who warn it could devastate the fragile seabird populations that rely on the protected refuge for survival.

The project, part of the Air Force’s Rocket Cargo Vanguard program, aims to test rocket re-entry vehicles capable of delivering up to 100 tons of supplies anywhere on Earth in under 90 minutes—potentially revolutionizing military logistics. In March, the Air Force announced that the tests would take place on Johnston Atoll, a tiny U.S. territory located roughly 800 miles southwest of Hawaii.

However, biologists familiar with the atoll say the environmental impact could be catastrophic. The one-square-mile island is home to about a million seabirds from 14 species, including red-tailed tropicbirds, red-footed boobies, and great frigatebirds, which have eight-foot wingspans. Their numbers have rebounded from a few thousand in the 1980s due to years of dedicated conservation efforts.

“Any kind of aviation activity will have consequences at this point,” said Steven Minamishin, a Hawaii-based biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System.

The primary concern, according to University of Texas wildlife biologist Ryan Rash, is that the noise from rocket landings will startle nesting birds, causing them to flee and abandon their eggs. “The biggest risk is that the noise will flush them from their nests, leaving them too stressed or disoriented to return, leading to the loss of an entire generation,” Rash warned.

Conservation Efforts at Risk

Johnston Atoll has a history of military use, having served as a nuclear testing site from the late 1950s to 1962 and a storage facility for chemical munitions, including Agent Orange, in the 1970s. After an extensive environmental cleanup in 2004, the atoll was designated a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge and has been strictly controlled to prevent ecological disturbances.

To safeguard the island’s ecosystem, conservationists led a decade-long campaign to eradicate invasive yellow crazy ants, which were harming the bird population. Volunteers adhered to rigorous biosecurity protocols, including freezing and sanitizing all gear before arriving on the island.

Desirée Sorenson-Groves, president of the National Wildlife Refuge Association, emphasized the significance of protecting these remote habitats. “These islands are all that’s left for these birds,” she said. “The U.S. has invested millions to restore this refuge, and it would be a tragedy to undo that progress.”

Wildlife photographer and former Fish and Wildlife Service volunteer Eric Baker, who spent a year on Johnston, fears the rocket landings will undo years of conservation work. “The nests and the birds could be obliterated,” he said.

Environmental Review and Concerns

The Air Force and SpaceX are in the process of preparing an environmental assessment, which will be available for public comment in the coming weeks. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, this assessment is required before the project can proceed.

A Federal Register notice in March suggested the project is unlikely to cause significant environmental damage but acknowledged the potential risks to migratory birds. The Air Force has stated that it is working closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Fisheries Service to evaluate and mitigate any potential ecological impacts.

SpaceX has not yet responded to inquiries about the project’s environmental risks.

History of SpaceX's Wildlife Impact

This is not the first time SpaceX operations have been criticized for harming wildlife. A Starship rocket launch in Boca Chica, Texas, last year resulted in an explosion that destroyed shorebird nests and eggs, sparking legal action against the company. In response, Elon Musk made light of the situation, joking that he would forgo eating omelets for a week as a form of atonement.

Musk, who is currently serving as an adviser to President Donald Trump on government downsizing and restructuring, has remained silent on concerns about the Johnston Atoll project.
As preparations for the rocket cargo tests continue, conservationists remain deeply concerned that the proposed project could spell disaster for one of the last sanctuaries for Pacific seabirds.