National Environmental Policy Act; Lidar In-space Technology Experiment

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 94-015]

National Environmental Policy Act; Lidar In-space Technology

Experiment

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 Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA

(40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and NASA policy and regulations (14 CFR part

1216 Subpart 1216.3), NASA has made a Funding of No Significant Impact

(FONSI) with respect to the proposed Lidar In-space Technology

Experiment (LITE) be managed by the NASA Langley Research Center,

Hampton, VA. LITE involves testing the capabilities of a lidar (LIght

Detection And Ranging) system to monitor atmospheric conditions from

space. LITE hardware would be carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle

mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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

before April 4, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Tricia Romanowski,

Environmental Engineer, Environmental Engineering Branch, SSQRD, M/S

429, 5 Hunsaker Loop, NASA/Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for the proposed LITE

which supports this FONSI may be examined by contacting the Freedom of

Information Act Office at any of the following locations:

(a) NASA, Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546 (202-358-1764).

(b) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (415-

604-4191).

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

286-0730).

(d) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Resident Office, 4800 Oak

Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5359).

(e) NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 (713-483-

8612).

(f) NASA, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 (407-867-2622).

(g) NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665 (804-864-

6125).

(h) NASA, Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road,

Cleveland, OH 44135 (216-433-2902).

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

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

A limited number of copies of the EA are available by contacting

Tricia Romanowski, Environmental Engineer, at the address or

telephone number indicated herein.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tricia Romanowski, 804-864-7020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA has reviewed the EA prepared for the

proposed LITE 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 test a lidar system in space for use in a

global atmospheric monitoring program. The principal components of a

lidar system are the laser transmitter module (LTM) and the telescope-

receiver. The LTM shoots a pulsed laser beam into the atmosphere where

much of the laser energy is absorbed by the atmosphere. Some of the

energy is reflected back toward the telescope-receiver, while a small

fraction passes through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface.

The energy reflected toward the telescope-receiver is used to assess

meteorological conditions (e.g., cloud conditions) and atmospheric

aerosols (e.g., atmospheric contaminants), and to monitor the ozone

layer. NASA proposes to fly a lidar system as an attached payload on

the Space Shuttle. The first flight is scheduled for the fall of 1994

as a 9-day mission to gain experience in operating a lidar system in a

space environment and to evaluate the sensitivity of the lidar

instrument for monitoring atmospheric conditions.

The proposed action and the No-Action Alternative (i.e., no space-

based testing of a lidar system) were considered in the EA. The No-

Action Alternative will not fulfill NASA's objective to advance

atmospheric monitoring capabilities. Under the No-Action Alternative,

it will not be possible to develop the technology for a space-based

lidar atmospheric monitoring system, and it will be necessary to

continue to rely on existing passive monitoring instruments which have

limitations in assessing the vertical distribution of atmospheric

constituents.

The proposed action is the normal operation of the LITE payload

from within the Space Shuttle cargo bay. The LITE payload will remain

in the Shuttle cargo bay and will not produce any effluent which could

escape the cargo bay during mission operations. The only feature of the

LITE payload which will emerge from the cargo bay will be the laser

beam.

The LITE LTM will produce laser energy in three wavelengths, one of

which will be visible (pale green). The portion of the laser energy

which will pass through the atmosphere will reach the Earth's surface

in a series of circular ``laser spots'' as the Shuttle moves across the

Earth's surface. The diameter of the spots will vary from 265 meters

(870 feet) to 483 meters (1,585 feet). Exposure will occur only to

persons who are within a laser spot. Each laser pulse will last for 20

nanoseconds. The planned mission orbits will be between 57 degrees

north latitude and 57 degrees south latitude. Given the laser pulse

rate and the Shuttle's orbiting velocity, a person cannot be within two

consecutive laser spots.

A comprehensive safety analysis performed for the proposed LITE

found minimal risk of skin or eye injury from operation of the LITE

LTM. The maximum Radiant Exposure (RE) to a person within a laser spot

was calculated to be more than a million times lower than the Maximum

Permissible Exposure (MPE) for skin exposure and at least two orders of

magnitude lower than the MPE for eye exposure for each of the three

laser energy wavelengths. The cumulative effect or simultaneous

exposure to multiple wavelengths was calculated to be at least two

orders of magnitude lower than the MPE. RE to persons using binoculars

to view the Shuttle from within a laser spot was calculated to be lower

than the MPE. While RE to persons using a 165-mm (6.5-inch) telescope

to view the Shuttle from within a laser spot was calculated to be equal

to the MPE, there is still considerable safety factor in the MPE, since

MPE's are established at exposures which are one to two orders of

magnitude lower than the level of any known hazard.

A Phase I Flight Safety Review found that the LITE LTM lasers will

not be hazardous to persons in aircraft and will not interfere with

microwave, very-high-frequency, or ultra-high-frequency communications.

A review by the U.S. Space Command Laser Clearinghouse found that the

LITE lasers will not exceed the damage threshold to space systems.

No other potential environmental impacts were identified as a

result of the environmental assessment. On the basis of the LITE EA and

underlying reference documents, NASA has determined that the

environmental impacts associated with this project will not

individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the quality

of the environment. NASA will take no final action prior to the

expiration of the 30-day comment period.

Gregory M. Reck,

Acting Associate Administrator, for Advanced Concepts and Technology.

[FR Doc. 94-5025 Filed 3-3-94; 8:45 am]

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