[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1950-1951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-917]



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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[NOTICE 96-001]


National Environmental Policy Act; Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous 
Mission

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 (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 has made a finding 
of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to the proposed Near 
Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission, which would involve a flight 
to and orbit about the near Earth asteroid (433) Eros. The baseline 
mission calls for the NEAR spacecraft to be launched aboard a Delta II 
7925 from Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS), Florida, in February 1996.

DATES: Comments on the FONSI must be provided in writing to NASA on or 
before February 23, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Ms. Elizabeth Beyer, 
NASA Headquarters, Code SLP, 300 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20546. The 
Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for the NEAR mission which 
supports this FONSI may be reviewed at the following locations:
    (a) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room 1J20, 300 E Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20546.
    (b) Spaceport USA, Room 2001, John F. Kennedy Space Center, 
Florida, 32899. Please call Lisa Fowler beforehand at 407-867-2468 so 
that arrangements can be made.
    (c) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visitors Lobby, Building 249, 4800 
Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818-354-5179).
    The EA may also be examined at the following NASA locations by 
contacting the pertinent Freedom of Information Act Office:
    (d) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 (415-604-
4190).
    (e) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA 93523 (805-
258-3448).
    (f) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301-
286-0730).
    (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 (216-433-2313).
    (j) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812 (205-
544-5252).
    (k) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 (601-688-2164).
    A limited number of copies of the EA are available by contacting 
Ms. Elizabeth Beyer at the address or telephone number indicated 
herein.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Beyer, 202-358-0314.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA has reviewed the EA prepared for the 
NEAR mission 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 launch the NEAR mission, which would deliver a 
single orbiting spacecraft to Eros in 1999. Following launch and 
injection into a heliocentric transfer orbit in February 1996, there 
would be an Earth swingby in January 1998 which will change the 
heliocentric orbital inclination by about 10 degrees to intercept the 
orbit of Eros. The initial flyby of Eros would be at a closest approach 
distance of 500 kilometers (km) (310 miles (mi.)) and would allow an 
initial reconnaissance of Eros by several instruments and an initial 
determination of mass and rotational state. Orbital insertion about 
Eros would occur a few days later in a circular 1000 km (621 mi.) 
orbit, followed a few weeks later by insertion into a circular 200 km 
(124 mi.) orbit face-on to the direction of Earth. The orbit would then 
be lowered in stages, as the asteroid shape and gravity models are 
refined, until the nominal rendezvous orbit radius of 35 km (22 mi.) is 
attained. The spacecraft carries no radioactive material, except for a 
minor calibration source which consists of 30 microcuries of Fe\55\ 
(iron-55). The proposed action calls for using a Delta II 7925 launch 
vehicle with a Payload Assist Module-Delta (PAM-D) upper stage to 
inject the NEAR spacecraft into its heliocentric transfer orbit.
    The science objective for the NEAR mission is to investigate the 
properties of a single asteroid, the rendezvous target, 433 Eros. Near 
earth asteroids are of fundamental scientific importance they may 
preserve clues to early solar system processes and to conditions 

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during the formation and early evolution of the planets. Measurements 
from five instruments would provide the data which should accomplish 
the science objectives. These objectives include detailed studies of 
surface processes such as the formation of soil from rocks and surface 
characteristics of these very low gravity bodies. The study of Eros is 
expected to provide data to characterize asteroid physical and 
geological properties and indicate elemental and mineralogical 
composition. Data collected by NEAR could also provide important 
information on the search for intrinsic magnetization of the asteroid.
    Alternatives that were evaluated include: (1) No-Action (i.e., no 
NEAR mission); and (2) launch vehicles options, including the Space 
Shuttle, Titan, and Atlas configurations, foreign launch vehicles, as 
well as other Delta configurations. Failure to undertake the NEAR 
mission would disrupt the execution of NASA's Solar System Exploration 
Program, as defined by the Agency's Solar System Exploration Committee. 
Cancellation of the NEAR mission would delay or eliminate the gathering 
of potentially important data needed to study the origin and evolution 
of our solar system. Of the launch vehicles evaluated, the Delta II 
7925/PAM-D most closely matches the NEAR mission requirements, has 
superior reliability, minimizes adverse environmental impacts, and is 
also the lowest in cost.
    Expected impacts to the human environment associated with the 
mission arise almost entirely from the normal launch of the Delta II 
7925. Air emissions from the exhaust produced by the solid propellant 
graphite epoxy motors and liquid first stage primarily include carbon 
monoxide, hydrochloric acid, aluminum oxide in soluble and insoluble 
forms, carbon dioxide, and deluge water mixed with propellant by-
products. Air impacts will be short-term and not substantial. Short-
term water quality and noise impacts, as well as short-term effects on 
wetlands, plants, and animals, would occur in the vicinity of the 
launch complex. These short-term impacts are of a nature to be self-
correcting, and none of these effects would be substantial. There would 
be no impact on threatened or endangered species or critical habitat, 
cultural resources, or floodplains. Accident scenarios have also been 
addressed.
    The second stage would be ignited at an altitude of 122 km (76 
mi.), which is in the ionosphere. Although the second stage would 
achieve orbit, its orbital decay time would fall below the limit NASA 
has set for orbital debris consideration. After burning its propellant 
to depletion, the second stage would remain in low Earth orbit until 
its orbit eventually decayed. The NEAR Project has followed the NASA 
guidelines regarding orbital debris and minimizing the risk of human 
casualty for uncontrolled reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. No other 
impacts of environmental concern has been identified.
    The level and scope of environmental impacts associated with the 
launch of the Delta II 7925 vehicle are well within the envelope of 
impacts that have been addressed in previous FONSI's concerning other 
launch vehicles and spacecraft. No significant new circumstances or 
information relevant to environmental concerns associated with the 
launch vehicle have been identified which would affect the earlier 
findings.
    On the basis of the NEAR EA, NASA has determined that the 
environmental impacts associated with the mission would not 
individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the quality 
of the human environment. NASA will take no final action prior to the 
expiration of the 30-day comment period.

    Dated: January 17, 1996.
Wesley T. Huntress, Jr.,
Associate Administrator for Space Science.
[FR Doc. 96-917 Filed 1-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-M