The proposal to test hypersonic merchandise deliveries with rockets on an isolated atol from the Pacific was abandoned by criticisms on the impact on marine birds.
Elon Musk's rocket would affect the colonies of sea birds/photo: Archive
The US Air Forces have given up the plans to test merchandise deliveries with hypersonic missiles from Johston atol, an isolated territory from Pacific, in collaboration with Spacex, the company of Elon Musk. The decision comes after the experts warned that the project could affect the colonies of marine birds nesting on the island, according to the Stars and Stripes military.
A petition demanding the abandonment of plans collected over 3,800 signatures, and the air forces announced that they would look for other locations for the program, after initially promised an environmental assessment.
The purpose of the program is to test the landing of reusable vehicles capable of transporting up to 100 tons of freight at any point in the globe in maximum 90 minutes. Air forces claim that such technologies could revolutionize military logistics, which now require days or weeks to deliver supplies in distant areas.
The Johnston atol, an unincorporated US territory located about 1,300 km southwest of Hawaii, is closed to the public and administered by the air forces. It is also a protected natural reserve, hosting 14 species of tropical birds.
This is not the first time Spacex attracts criticism for its impact on the environment. Last year, a rocket launch in Boca Chica, Texas, destroyed nests and eggs of shore birds, causing Musk to joke that he will refrain from the omelette as a compensation. In May, environmental groups have sued the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to approve the extension of Spacex operations without additional environmental studies, although the base is near a natural reserve.
So far, the Air Forces have not announced official industrial partners, but Spacex was considered a main candidate. It seems that, this time, the birds won the fight.
