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Spacex Falcon Program SpaceX Falcon Program Falcon 1 Falcon 9 Environmental Assessment 27 September 2007 U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/ U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command P.O. Box 1500 Huntsville, AL 35807-3801 SPACEX FALCON PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT U.S. ARMY SPACE AND MISSILE DEFENSE COMMAND/U.S. ARMY FORCES STRATEGIC COMMAND AGENCY: U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact BACKGROUND: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environment; Policy Act (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR]; 32 CFR Part 651, Environmental Analysis of Army Actions (Army Regulation 200-2), and Executive Order 12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the environmental consequences of launches of Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles with satellite or sub-orbital payloads from Omelek Islet at the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll/Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (USAKA/RTS). The Falcon Launch Vehicle Program is a venture by Space Exploration Technologies, Inc. (SpaceX) to provide space launch operations of U.S. Government (Department of Defense [DoD] and other federal entities) and non-U.S. Government (commercial and foreign) payloads. SpaceX is a privately- held company that is developing the Falcon Launch Vehicle Program to put small spacecraft into orbit with high reliability and low cost. As required by the Commercial Space Launch Activities Act, SpaceX will pursue a commercial launch license for non U.S. Government payloads. The Federal Aviation Administration, which is a Cooperating Agency, will use the analysis of this EA to support its environmental determination to issue the launch license for the Falcon Program. The 2004 Proof-of-Principle Space Launches from Omelek Island EA only analyzed the impacts of two launches, and modifications (bringing temporary buildings to the island and improvements to island infrastructure) to the existing site were meant to be minimal or temporary. Equipment was removed from the island between missions, and the facilities were cleaned and secured after each launch. The two initial SpaceX launches were intended to test and verify the concept of the new launch vehicle before making a long-term investment at USAKA (Omelek). A Finding of No Significant Impact was signed on 8 February 2005. A Record of Environmental Consideration (REC) was signed in August 2006 to authorize (1) an additional five Falcon 1 launches from Omelek, (2) installation of a trailer (with electrical connections) in an existing cleared area, (3) construction of a concrete secondary containment structure and, (4) installation of a 50-kilowatt (kW) generator to be used during non-launch periods to eliminate the need to operate the larger 400- kilovolt generators. SpaceX is interested in performing more Falcon 1 launches and expanding capabilities to accommodate launches of a larger vehicle, the Falcon 9, from Omelek. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION: The Proposed Action is to conduct launch operations placing small and medium class payloads (less than 907 kilograms 1 [2,000 pounds]) to 6,804 kilograms [15,000 pounds]) into orbit from Omelek using Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles. Falcon 1 launches would continue as follow-on from the five flights authorized in the REC signed in August 2006. The Falcon 9 system launches would begin in 2008 after site preparation. An average of six Falcon 1 launches per year is planned for the next 10 years, and up to four Falcon 9 launches per year starting after 2008. All flights would have either a satellite or a sub-orbital payload. The Falcon 1 is a light-lift, two-stage launch vehicle designed to put small spacecraft into orbit with high reliability and low cost. Only the first stage is recoverable. One SpaceX Merlin engine powers the Falcon 1 first stage, and one SpaceX Kestrel engine powers the second stage. The Falcon 1 uses the liquid propellants liquid oxygen (LOX) and RP- 1 (kerosene). Some payloads could contain small amounts of liquid or solid propellants for use in orbit after the flight. The Falcon 9 is a two-stage, medium class, liquid launch vehicle that would launch space systems and satellites into orbit. The first stage of the Falcon 9 includes nine Merlin engines—the same engine used on the first stage of the Falcon 1. The second stage uses one or two Merlin engines. For the near term, only unmanned missions are planned. The propellants for the vehicle itself (both stages) are LOX and RP-1. The payloads may carry quantities of these or other propellants including nitrogen tetroxide, monomethyl hydrazine, other hydrazine propellants, and solid propellants. Upon arrival at USAKA, the propellants would be transferred directly to the certified facility on Meck Islet. The first stage of the Falcon 9 would be recovered and reused. The second stage would be reused when launch inclination, payload requirements, and weight allow for its recovery. Both vehicles would arrive at USAKA in two stages, each fully assembled. Depending on the landing craft schedules, the vehicles would be transferred to Omelek or stored in an existing physically secured area on Kwajalein. The stages would be inspected, assembled, tested, and moved to the launch site. The Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 vehicles would use separate launch sites on Omelek, though the Falcon 9 site may accommodate Falcon 1 launches on occasion. Both vehicles would be erected on the launch pad by hydraulic erector systems. Payloads would be processed at Omelek in the near term and on Kwajalein when facilities there are available. Both vehicles would be fueled on the pad, and RP-1 and LOX would be loaded the day of the launch. The goal is to launch within 1 month of payload arrival at the launch site. Both launch vehicles would normally be equipped with a thrust termination system that terminates thrust of the stage engines in the event of an anomaly in flight causing the vehicle to fall intact along the trajectory path. For some missions, the Falcon 9 would have an alternative explosive termination package that would terminate the flight by opening the vehicle tanks to disperse propellants once the package was activated. The debris would fall over a wider area but in smaller pieces. The termination system type would be based on the required trajectory and the payload. In addition to standard payloads, the Falcon 9 vehicle may also carry a capsule as a payload that is being developed to deliver cargo to the International Space Station under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This capsule named Dragon would be processed similarly to any other payload. After completion of its mission to deliver cargo, the Dragon would re-enter the atmosphere on a pre-planned 2 trajectory, soft-land in the ocean, and be recovered by a recovery vessel similar to the Falcon 9 first stage. To support the proposed sustained launch activities, several improvements would be required on Omelek, including construction of a Falcon 9 launch pad and hangar facility, upgrades to existing propellant storage and loading facilities, and other site infrastructure improvements. SpaceX proposes to perform these activities in two construction phases. The first phase begins upon approval of the construction permit (anticipated in Fall 2007) and runs through Spring 2008. In this phase, the first few missions of the Falcon 9 vehicle would occur, and support for Falcon 1 launches would continue. The second phase would occur over several years (2008 through 2011) and would focus on upgrading site facilities to improve launch program efficiency. Two facilities are proposed for Kwajalein: a LOX plant facility and a Payload Processing Facility. All construction and launch activities of the Falcon 1 and 9 launch programs would comply with the USAKA Environmental Standards (UES) and the USAKA/RTS Range Safety Requirements. Falcon 1 launch activities have not substantially changed from those proposed in the Proof-of-Principle EA. However, most equipment would be stored on Omelek between missions rather than removed from the island. Falcon 9 pre-launch activities would be very similar to those of Falcon 1. Once the Falcon 9 stages arrive separately via landing craft or barge, they would be placed in the Falcon 9 processing hangar on Omelek. The stages would be checked and prepared for mating. NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE: Under the No-action Alternative, the proposed Falcon launch vehicle activities would not be conducted at Omelek, and SpaceX would not proceed with further new construction or modification efforts at USAKA or launches beyond the five that have been authorized. SpaceX would be unable to launch additional satellite payloads into orbit from USAKA/RTS and would be required to consider less suitable alternative launch sites to continue the program. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: Thirteen broad areas of environmental consideration were considered to provide a context for understanding the potential effects of the Proposed Action and to provide a basis for assessing the severity of potential impacts. These areas included air quality, airspace, biological resources, cultural resources, environmental justice, geology and soils, hazardous materials and waste, health and safety, infrastructure, land use, noise, socioeconomics, and water resources. These areas were analyzed as applicable for the proposed location or activity. All activities would be carried out in compliance with applicable federal and USAKA/RTS regulations and requirements. Air Quality Site preparation emissions are not anticipated to cause exceedances of the UES. Additionally, implementation of standard dust suppression methods (frequent watering) and a vehicle maintenance program (proper tuning and preventive maintenance of vehicles) would minimize fugitive dust emissions and vehicle exhaust emissions, respectively, and would help to maintain the area’s current air quality.
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