National Environmental Policy Act; Pluto-Kuiper Express Mission

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).

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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:

[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Lavery, 202-358-1109;

electronic mail: [email protected].

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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