National Environmental Policy Act; Cassini Mission

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 94-084]

National Environmental Policy Act; Cassini Mission

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on

Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural

Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508), and NASA policy

and regulations (14 CFR Part 1216, Subpart 1216.3), NASA has prepared

and issued a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the

proposed Cassini mission. This planned action would involve the

preparation for and implementation of the Cassini mission, including,

but not limited to, launch of the Cassini spacecraft, its cruise to

Saturn, and a variety of scientific operations and investigations

focused on Saturn and its rings and satellites.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS must be provided in writing to NASA on or

before December 5, 1994 or 45 days from the date of publication in the

Federal Register of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's notice

of availability of the Cassini DEIS, whichever is later.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Dr. Peter B. Ulrich, NASA

Headquarters, Code SL, 300 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20546. The DEIS

may be reviewed at the following locations:

(a) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room 1J20, 300 E Street SW.,

Washington, DC 20546.

(b) Spaceport U.S.A., Room 2001, John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL

32899.

In addition, the DEIS may be examined at the following NASA

locations by contacting the pertinent Freedom of Information Act

Office:

(c) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (415-604-4191).

(d) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (805-258-

3047).

(e) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301-286-

0730).

(f) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Resident Office, 4800 Oak Grove

Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5179).

(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 (216-433-2902).

(j) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812 (205-544-4523).

(k) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (601-688-2164).

Copies of the DEIS are available by contacting Dr. Peter B. Ulrich,

at the address or telephone number indicated herein.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Peter B. Ulrich, 202-358-0290.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS considers and analyzes the

alternatives associated with the proposed Cassini mission and their

related environmental impacts. NASA's baseline proposed action and

preferred alternative would involve the launch of the Cassini

spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, using a Titan IV

(Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade)/Centaur. The primary launch opportunity is

in October 1997, with contingency launch opportunities in December 1997

(secondary) or March 1999 (backup).

The primary launch opportunity would place the spacecraft into a

6.7-year Venus-Venus-Earth-Jupiter-Gravity-Assist trajectory to Saturn.

The preferred alternative would use three radioisotope thermoelectric

generators for onboard electrical power, and radioisotope heater units

to control the thermal environment of the spacecraft and its

components.

Benita A. Cooper,

Associate Administrator for Management Systems and Facilities.

[FR Doc. 94-25840 Filed 10-19-94; 8:45 am]

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