Air Force Shelves Rocket Landing Pads on Johnston Atoll, Seeks Offshore…

🚫 The U.S. Air Force has shelved plans to build rocket landing pads on Johnston Atoll to test space cargo deliveries, citing ecological concerns and public opposition at one of the most remote and environmentally sensitive locations on Earth. While not surprising, the search for a new location will take time, and many of the alternatives face similar challenges. But the mission behind the Rocket Cargo program—rapid point-to-point delivery for urgent logistical needs—is still vital to force readiness and our ability to project power. Led by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Rocket Cargo represents a bold step in military logistics. The goal is to use space vehicles to deliver cargo anywhere on Earth within hours, whereas traditional airlift can take days. AFRL envisions same-day delivery using reusable rockets and reentry capsules. Companies like Inversion Space, Outpost, Sierra Space, and Varda Space are developing space cargo vehicles. Launch providers SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Blue Origin also hold Air Force contracts for capability demonstrations. The path to success runs not on land, but offshore. 🌊 We believe mobile, maritime platforms offer a smarter, faster, and more responsible alternative to fixed island infrastructure. Offshore systems: 🔹 Avoid fragile terrestrial ecosystems 🔹 Reposition globally for mission flexibility 🔹 Enable recovery near the point of need 🔹 Reduce overflight and permitting constraints 🔹 Support distributed, resilient military operations If Rocket Cargo is going to deliver on its promise, offshore capabilities will be key. Seagate Space is building for that future. 🔗 Link to full article in the comments. Image descriptions: • A red-tailed tropic bird sits beside abandoned buildings on Johnston Atoll. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Eric Baker) • Aerial view of Johnston Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean. (Wikimedia Commons) • Illustration of the Rocket Cargo concept, delivering large payloads for rapid global logistics, including humanitarian aid and disaster response. (U.S. Air Force/Randy Palmer) #SeagateSpace #RocketCargo #OffshoreRecovery #SpaceLogistics #NationalSecurity