The news went almost unnoticed: in early March, the U.S. Air Force published a notice in the Federal Register, signaling its intention to build two platforms on Johnston Island. This remote island in the Pacific, located 700 nautical miles from Hawaii, is an unincorporated U.S. territory, therefore under direct control of Washington.
A landing strip in the middle of the ocean
The project is part of the Rocket Cargo Vanguard program, an initiative that aims to test rapid deliveries of military equipment... by rocket. The idea is to send a load into space, then have it descend at high speed to a specific target, anywhere on Earth. In short, a modern version of express transport, but a military and supersonic version.
Except that Johnston Island is not a wasteland. The island is part of a protected nature reserve and is located in a designated marine area. The Pentagon will therefore have to conduct a series of studies to ensure that its rockets do not disturb migratory birds, fish, or other local species. According to the Air Force, these studies should conclude that the impact is "not significant." A report is expected in early April, followed by a 30-day public comment period.
The Rocket Cargo Vanguard program is not new: it has been in the making for at least five years. The idea appeals to Pentagon strategists, who are seeking to further improve the speed of their logistics. In 2020, General Stephen R. Lyons already mentioned this ambition: "Imagine moving the equivalent of a C-17 anywhere on the planet in less than an hour." This is where SpaceX comes in. Although nothing has been confirmed yet, Elon Musk's reusable rockets are in the crosshairs. The project could rely on its launchers to transport food, munitions, or even vehicles, at missile speed.
Obviously, this promise comes at a cost. Launching a rocket remains extremely expensive—much more so than a cargo plane flight—even though SpaceX is working to reduce costs by reusing its vehicles. But the military seems ready to believe it. In 2021, General John Raymond, then head of the Space Force, touted a future where “military cargo could be delivered to record speed, even in the midst of a humanitarian crisis or conflict.»
For now, we are still far from daily space deliveries. But the project is moving forward. And if all goes well, Johnston Island could soon see rockets full of equipment landing directly from space. Give or take 90 minutes.
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