[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39748-39749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14409]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice: 02-074 ]


National Environmental Policy Act; Pluto-Kuiper Belt Mission

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

[[Page 39749]]


ACTION: Information update and reopening of scoping period.

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SUMMARY: On October 7, 1998, NASA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) for NASA's Pluto-Kuiper Express Mission. The notice was issued in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and Council on Environmental 
Quality and NASA's implementing regulations. Since publication of the 
NOI, NASA prepared further evaluations of the mission design, including 
the alternatives indicated in the NOI. These evaluations have resulted 
in refinement of NASA's original concept for the mission, specifically 
with respect to details such as specific launch dates, launch vehicle 
options, and the use of an advanced radioisotope power source (RPS) for 
onboard power. The renamed Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission is now proposed 
for launch in January 2006 on an expendable launch vehicle from Cape 
Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida, with an arrival at Pluto 
not later than 2020. NASA's original concept has also been modified to 
utilize a conventional radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) 
instead of an advanced RPS originally envisioned. It is not anticipated 
that any radioisotope heater units (RHU) would be needed.
    The draft EIS will address the environmental impacts associated 
with launching and operating the mission, the No Action alternative, 
and other alternatives. This notice informs the public of the revised 
proposal, reopens the scoping period, and solicits new public comment.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments on 
environmental concerns in writing on or before July 25, 2002, to assure 
full consideration during the extended scoping process.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Kurt Lindstrom, 
NASA Headquarters, Code SE, Washington, DC 20546-0001. Comments may 
also be sent by electronic mail to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kurt Lindstrom, Code SE, NASA 
Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001; 202-358-1588; electronic mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The October 7, 1998, NOI described the 
purpose and structure of the EIS for the proposed Pluto-Kuiper Express 
mission. At that time NASA's original concept was to launch the Pluto-
Kuiper Express spacecraft in November 2003 or in December 2004 on 
either the Space Shuttle from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, or an 
expendable launch vehicle from CCAFS, Florida. Both proposed 
trajectories would have involved a Jupiter gravity assist maneuver, 
allowing the spacecraft to arrive at Pluto in time to take advantage of 
its close orbital position relative to the Sun. The original concept 
for the Pluto-Kuiper Express mission included the potential use of a 
new advanced RPS under study for deep-space exploration, and 
approximately 80 RHUs. NASA anticipated that an RPS, due to improved 
power conversion system efficiency, would require less radioactive 
material (plutonium dioxide) than a conventional RTG.
    Since publication of the 1998 NOI, NASA has revised its original 
concept for the Pluto-Kuiper Express mission, renamed the Pluto-Kuiper 
Belt mission. As a result of more detailed mission design studies and 
programmatic evaluations, NASA has determined that launch of the Pluto-
Kuiper Belt spacecraft is not feasible before January 2006, and 
therefore has eliminated the November 2003 and December 2004 launch 
opportunities from further consideration. The January 2006 launch 
opportunity is now the launch opportunity for the proposed mission. The 
proposed mission would still require a Jupiter gravity assist 
trajectory. The flight time to Pluto with the new opportunity would be 
10 to 12 years, with the spacecraft arriving at Pluto before 2020. 
After 2006, Jupiter will not be in the proper alignment to provide a 
gravity assist toward Pluto until 2015. Arrival by 2020 gives the best 
opportunity to study Pluto near its closest approach to the sun, which 
will provide the best conditions for scientific observations. A backup 
launch opportunity may exist in 2007 using a direct trajectory to 
Pluto. While direct trajectories to Pluto are available approximately 
every 13 months, after 2007 the flight times are projected to be too 
long to provide timely return of scientific data.
    The proposed 2006 launch date for the mission also affects 
potential use of the Space Shuttle, which was proposed in the original 
NOI as the primary launch vehicle. For programmatic and technical 
reasons, the Space Shuttle is not proposed for this mission. As 
proposed, the Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission would be launched on an 
expendable launch vehicle.
    Use of an RPS on the proposed mission would be dependent upon full-
scale development of a new power conversion system and qualification 
testing of the RPS to assure its suitability for long-duration space 
missions. The development and testing processes would not result in an 
RPS that would be fully qualified by 2006 for use on the proposed 
mission. Thus, the mission concept has been revised to include a 
conventional RTG to provide electrical power for the Pluto-Kuiper Belt 
spacecraft. Because a conventional RTG would generate a greater amount 
of heat, RHUs would no longer be needed to provide auxiliary heat for 
spacecraft thermal control.
    In preparing the Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission draft EIS, NASA will 
consider comments from the scoping process initiated by publication of 
the original 1998 NOI, and any new comments received in response to 
this notice.

Jeffrey E. Sutton,
Assistant Administrator for Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 02-14409 Filed 6-7-02; 8:45 am]
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