[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1950-1951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-917]
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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[NOTICE 96-001]
National Environmental Policy Act; Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous
Mission
AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Finding of no significant impact.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and NASA policy and
procedures (14 CFR Part 1216 Subpart 1216.3), NASA has made a finding
of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to the proposed Near
Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission, which would involve a flight
to and orbit about the near Earth asteroid (433) Eros. The baseline
mission calls for the NEAR spacecraft to be launched aboard a Delta II
7925 from Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS), Florida, in February 1996.
DATES: Comments on the FONSI must be provided in writing to NASA on or
before February 23, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Ms. Elizabeth Beyer,
NASA Headquarters, Code SLP, 300 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20546. The
Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for the NEAR mission which
supports this FONSI may be reviewed at the following locations:
(a) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room 1J20, 300 E Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20546.
(b) Spaceport USA, Room 2001, John F. Kennedy Space Center,
Florida, 32899. Please call Lisa Fowler beforehand at 407-867-2468 so
that arrangements can be made.
(c) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors Lobby, Building 249, 4800
Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5179).
The EA may also be examined at the following NASA locations by
contacting the pertinent Freedom of Information Act Office:
(d) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (415-604-
4190).
(e) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (805-
258-3448).
(f) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301-
286-0730).
(g) NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 (713-483-8612).
(h) NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665 (804-864-
6125).
(i) NASA, Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland,
OH 44135 (216-433-2313).
(j) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812 (205-
544-5252).
(k) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (601-688-2164).
A limited number of copies of the EA are available by contacting
Ms. Elizabeth Beyer at the address or telephone number indicated
herein.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Beyer, 202-358-0314.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA has reviewed the EA prepared for the
NEAR mission and has determined that it represents an accurate and
adequate analysis of the scope and level of associated environmental
impacts. The EA is incorporated by reference in this FONSI.
NASA is proposing to launch the NEAR mission, which would deliver a
single orbiting spacecraft to Eros in 1999. Following launch and
injection into a heliocentric transfer orbit in February 1996, there
would be an Earth swingby in January 1998 which will change the
heliocentric orbital inclination by about 10 degrees to intercept the
orbit of Eros. The initial flyby of Eros would be at a closest approach
distance of 500 kilometers (km) (310 miles (mi.)) and would allow an
initial reconnaissance of Eros by several instruments and an initial
determination of mass and rotational state. Orbital insertion about
Eros would occur a few days later in a circular 1000 km (621 mi.)
orbit, followed a few weeks later by insertion into a circular 200 km
(124 mi.) orbit face-on to the direction of Earth. The orbit would then
be lowered in stages, as the asteroid shape and gravity models are
refined, until the nominal rendezvous orbit radius of 35 km (22 mi.) is
attained. The spacecraft carries no radioactive material, except for a
minor calibration source which consists of 30 microcuries of Fe\55\
(iron-55). The proposed action calls for using a Delta II 7925 launch
vehicle with a Payload Assist Module-Delta (PAM-D) upper stage to
inject the NEAR spacecraft into its heliocentric transfer orbit.
The science objective for the NEAR mission is to investigate the
properties of a single asteroid, the rendezvous target, 433 Eros. Near
earth asteroids are of fundamental scientific importance they may
preserve clues to early solar system processes and to conditions
[[Page 1951]]
during the formation and early evolution of the planets. Measurements
from five instruments would provide the data which should accomplish
the science objectives. These objectives include detailed studies of
surface processes such as the formation of soil from rocks and surface
characteristics of these very low gravity bodies. The study of Eros is
expected to provide data to characterize asteroid physical and
geological properties and indicate elemental and mineralogical
composition. Data collected by NEAR could also provide important
information on the search for intrinsic magnetization of the asteroid.
Alternatives that were evaluated include: (1) No-Action (i.e., no
NEAR mission); and (2) launch vehicles options, including the Space
Shuttle, Titan, and Atlas configurations, foreign launch vehicles, as
well as other Delta configurations. Failure to undertake the NEAR
mission would disrupt the execution of NASA's Solar System Exploration
Program, as defined by the Agency's Solar System Exploration Committee.
Cancellation of the NEAR mission would delay or eliminate the gathering
of potentially important data needed to study the origin and evolution
of our solar system. Of the launch vehicles evaluated, the Delta II
7925/PAM-D most closely matches the NEAR mission requirements, has
superior reliability, minimizes adverse environmental impacts, and is
also the lowest in cost.
Expected impacts to the human environment associated with the
mission arise almost entirely from the normal launch of the Delta II
7925. Air emissions from the exhaust produced by the solid propellant
graphite epoxy motors and liquid first stage primarily include carbon
monoxide, hydrochloric acid, aluminum oxide in soluble and insoluble
forms, carbon dioxide, and deluge water mixed with propellant by-
products. Air impacts will be short-term and not substantial. Short-
term water quality and noise impacts, as well as short-term effects on
wetlands, plants, and animals, would occur in the vicinity of the
launch complex. These short-term impacts are of a nature to be self-
correcting, and none of these effects would be substantial. There would
be no impact on threatened or endangered species or critical habitat,
cultural resources, or floodplains. Accident scenarios have also been
addressed.
The second stage would be ignited at an altitude of 122 km (76
mi.), which is in the ionosphere. Although the second stage would
achieve orbit, its orbital decay time would fall below the limit NASA
has set for orbital debris consideration. After burning its propellant
to depletion, the second stage would remain in low Earth orbit until
its orbit eventually decayed. The NEAR Project has followed the NASA
guidelines regarding orbital debris and minimizing the risk of human
casualty for uncontrolled reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. No other
impacts of environmental concern has been identified.
The level and scope of environmental impacts associated with the
launch of the Delta II 7925 vehicle are well within the envelope of
impacts that have been addressed in previous FONSI's concerning other
launch vehicles and spacecraft. No significant new circumstances or
information relevant to environmental concerns associated with the
launch vehicle have been identified which would affect the earlier
findings.
On the basis of the NEAR EA, NASA has determined that the
environmental impacts associated with the mission would not
individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the quality
of the human environment. NASA will take no final action prior to the
expiration of the 30-day comment period.
Dated: January 17, 1996.
Wesley T. Huntress, Jr.,
Associate Administrator for Space Science.
[FR Doc. 96-917 Filed 1-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-M
