[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53938-53939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26810]
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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[Notice 98-137]
National Environmental Policy Act; Pluto-Kuiper Express Mission
AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
and conduct scoping for the Pluto-Kuiper Express Mission.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA) (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 intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for NASA's Pluto-Kuiper Express mission. The EIS
will address the environmental impacts associated with launching and
operating the mission.
The Pluto-Kuiper Express mission is currently proposed to launch
from Cape Canaveral Air Station or Kennedy Space Center, Florida in
November 2003 or December 2004. The launch date would be affected by
the launch date for NASA's proposed Europa Orbiter mission. Concurrent
with the publication of this notice of intent (NOI), NASA is publishing
an NOI to prepare an EIS for the Europa Orbiter mission. Environmental
impacts to be considered in the EIS are those impacts associated with a
normal launch from Cape Canaveral Air Station or Kennedy Space Center,
and the potential radiological and non-radiological risks of the
mission. The baseline plan for the Pluto-Kuiper Express mission would
include the use of a Radioisotope Power System (RPS) and approximately
80 Radioisotope Heater Units (RHU's).
[[Page 53939]]
DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to
NASA on or before November 23, 1998, to assure full consideration
during the scoping process.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Mr. David Lavery,
Advanced Technology and Mission Studies Division, Code SM, NASA
Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001. While hard copy comments are
preferred, comments by electronic mail may be sent to:
osspluto@hq.nasa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Lavery, 202-358-1109;
electronic mail: osspluto@hq.nasa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA's Space Science Program seeks to
investigate the mysteries of the Universe, explore the Solar System,
find planets around other stars, and search for life beyond Earth. The
Pluto-Kuiper Express mission would cast light on our search for the
chemical and biological origins of life, and broaden our knowledge of
our Solar System. Pluto-Kuiper Express represents the last mission
necessary to complete the initial reconnaissance of the known planets
in our Solar System. The icy Kuiper Belt Objects beyond Pluto's orbit
may represent remnant bodies from which Earth's volatiles, such as
water, may have come. If Earth's atmosphere formed from in-falling
comets, exploring Pluto, Charon and the Kuiper Belt may guide us in the
search for our origins.
The science goals of the Pluto-Kuiper Express and Europa Orbiter
missions are independent. The implementation of either mission has no
effect on the need for and implementation of the other mission other
than logistical timing factors.
The Pluto-Kuiper Express spacecraft is currently proposed to launch
in November of 2003 or December of 2004 from Space Launch Complexes at
Cape Canaveral Air Station or Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The
proposed spacecraft and mission design at this time would probably
require the use of the Space Shuttle or an appropriate expendable
launch vehicle. The proposed trajectories would involve only one
Jupiter gravity assist maneuver.
If the mission utilizes an RPS, it is anticipated that, due to
relatively low spacecraft electrical power requirements and a potential
for improved power system efficiency, the spacecraft would carry
substantially less radioactive material (plutonium dioxide) than used
in a single ``conventional'' radioisotope thermoelectric generator.
If an RPS is used, some of the waste heat from the RPS could warm
temperature-critical elements such as propulsion components, the
propellant tanks, and electronics in the spacecraft body. However,
since the spacecraft would be operating very far from the Sun RPS waste
heat alone may not provide adequate heating for all spacecraft
components so far from the Sun. Therefore, in addition to the RPS, the
Pluto-Kuiper Express mission is considering the use of approximately 80
RHU's.
Alternatives to be considered in this EIS include, but are not
necessarily limited to, the (1) use of alternative sources of on-board
power (including solar); (2) alternative launch vehicles; (3)
alternative trajectories and launch dates; and (4) not undertaking the
mission or ``no-action.''
The EIS will consider the potential environmental impacts
associated with the normal launch and operation of the spacecraft, and
accident situations.
Written public input and comments on environmental impacts and
concerns associated with the proposed mission are hereby solicited.
Jeffrey E. Sutton,
Associate Administrator for Management Systems and Facilities.
[FR Doc. 98-26810 Filed 10-6-98; 8:45 am]
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