[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53938-53939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26810]


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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).


[[Page 53939]]


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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