[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5025]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 4, 1994]


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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]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-M