#maui space surveillance center

Brigadier General Anthony Mastalir, commander of the US Space Forces Indo-Pacific, said equipment failed in a “catastrophic way,” and said a power surge during severe weather reported last weekend, was a likely contributing factor.

The Hawaiian rights group, Kākoʻo Haleakalā, is calling for the removal of “all telescopes” from both Haleakalā on Maui and Maunakea on Hawaiʻi Island. This comes following recent reports of a 700 gallon diesel fuel spill at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex near the summit of Haleakalā.

An estimated 700 gallons of diesel fuel spilled at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex located at the summit of Haleakalā. Authorities pointed toward a mechanical issue in which a diesel fuel pump for an onsite backup generator failed to shut off on Sunday night. The spill was identified on Monday morning.

The bill includes $12.9 million for the Maui Space Surveillance System, a one-of-a-kind electro-optical facility that supports the Air Force’s efforts to track space debris.

The agreement would allow the agencies to utilize shared resources not only to address daily issues, but also to benefit the county and the department in times of disaster.