Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 128 / Thursday, July 3, 1997 / Notices 36081 (h) NASA, Langley Research Center, and implementing the Cassini Mission NASA notice on April 9, 1997, (62 FR Hampton, VA 23655 (757±864±2497). to Saturn and its moons, with a launch 17216) and U.S. Environmental (i) NASA, Lewis Research Center, 21000 of the Cassini spacecraft onboard a Titan Protection Agency notice on April 11, Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH IV(SRMU)/Centaur. The launch would 1997, (62 FR 17810); and (b) direct 44135 (216±433±2222). take place at CCAS during the primary mailings to interested parties. (j) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, launch opportunity that begins in early Comments received have been AL 35812 (202±544±0031). October 1997 and continues into mid- addressed in the FSEIS. (k) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS November 1997. A secondary launch Benita A. Cooper, 39529 (601±688±2164). opportunity extends from the end of Associate Administrator for Management Limited copies of the FSEIS are November 1997 to early January 1997, Systems and Facilities. available, on a first request basis, by with a backup opportunity from mid- [FR Doc. 97±17404 Filed 7±2±97; 8:45 am] contacting Mark R. Dahl at the address March to early April 1999, both using BILLING CODE 7510±01±M or telephone number indicated below. the Titan IV(SRMU)/Centaur. The FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: primary launch opportunity would Mr. Mark R. Dahl, NASA Headquarters, employ a Venus-Venus-Earth-Jupiter- NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND Code SD, Washington, DC 20546±0001; Gravity-Assist trajectory to Saturn; the SPACE ADMINISTRATION telephone 202±358±1544. secondary and backup opportunities would both employ a Venus-Earth- [Notice 97±091] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Earth-Gravity-Assist (VEEGA) trajectory. planned Cassini Mission is an National Environmental Policy Act; The above primary launch opportunity international cooperative effort of X±33 Advanced Technology remains NASA's preferred alternative NASA, the European Space Agency, and Demonstrator Vehicle Program and Proposed Action and would allow the Italian Space Agency, to explore the the Cassini spacecraft to gather the full AGENCY: National Aeronautics and planet Saturn and its environment. science return desired to accomplish Space Administration (NASA). Saturn is the second-largest and second- mission objectives. ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft most massive planet in the solar system Along with the No-Action alternative environmental impact statement (DEIS) and has the largest, most visible (ceasing preparations and not for the X±33 Advanced Technology dynamic ring structure of all the implementing the Cassini Mission), the Demonstrator Vehicle program. planets. The planned mission is an EIS evaluated in detail two other important part of NASA's program for mission alternatives. The March 1999 SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National exploration of the solar system, the goal alternative would have used two Shuttle Environmental Policy Act of 1969 of which is to understand the system's flights with on-orbit integration of the (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et birth and evolution. The Cassini spacecraft and upper stage, followed by seq.), the Council on Environmental Mission would involve a 4-year injection of the spacecraft into a VEEGA Quality Regulations for Implementing scientific exploration of Saturn, its trajectory to Saturn. Due to the long the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 atmosphere, moons, rings, and lead-time in developing and certifying CFR parts 1500±1508), and NASA magnetosphere. The Cassini spacecraft the new upper stage that would be policy and procedures (14 CFR part consists of the Cassini Orbiter and the needed to implement it, this alternative 1216 subpart 1216.3), NASA has detachable Huygens Probe. The is no longer considered reasonable. The prepared and issued a DEIS for Phase II Huygens Probe would be released for a other mission alternative considered in of the X±33 Program, which involves parachute descent into the atmosphere the EIS was the 2001 alternative which the development and demonstration of of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The would use a Titan IV(SRMU)/Centaur to the X±33 test vehicle. The DEIS scientific information gathered by the launch the spacecraft from CCAS in addresses environmental issues Cassini Mission could help provide March 2001 on a Venus-Venus-Venus- associated with the preparation of the clues to the evolution of the solar Gravity-Assist trajectory. A backup flight operations (launch) and landing system and the origin of life on Earth. opportunity in May 2002 would use a sites and testing of the X±33 technology NASA issued the Final Environmental VEEGA trajectory. The 2001 alternative demonstrator spaceplane. The purpose Impact Statement for the Cassini would require completing development of the proposed test program is to Mission in July 1995 (hereinafter the and testing of a new high-performance demonstrate the feasibility of ``EIS'') followed by the associated rehenium engine for, as well as adding technology which could result in Record of Decision (ROD) to complete about 20 percent more propellant to, the commercially viable Reusable Launch preparation of the Cassini Mission for spacecraft. Science returns from this (RLVs). launch in the October 1997 opportunity, alternative would meet the minimum The reasonable alternative launch or either the secondary or backup acceptable level for the mission. sites are located within Edwards Air opportunities, and to implement the The results from the safety risk Force Base (AFB) near Lancaster, mission. analyses have recently become California. The Cassini spacecraft would carry available. The FSEIS compares this Reasonable alternative landing sites three RTG's that use the heat of decay recent best available information with for segments of the flight test activities of plutonium dioxide to generate that presented in the EIS. The FSEIS are located at Silurian Lake, near Baker, electric power for the spacecraft and its addresses the Proposed Action, the No- California; China Lake Naval Air instruments. The spacecraft would also Action alternative, and the 2001 mission Warfare Center, near Ridgecrest, use 129 RHU's, each containing a small alternative (which is still available to California; Dugway Proving Grounds, amount of plutonium dioxide, to NASA). near Tooele, Utah; Grant County generate heat for controlling the thermal Comments on the draft supplemental Airport, Moses Lake, Washington; and environment of the spacecraft and environmental impact statement were Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, Montana. several of its instruments. solicited from Federal, State and local NASA is the lead agency in the The action selected and documented agencies, organizations, and members of preparation of the environmental impact in the ROD associated with the EIS the general public through: (a) notices statement. Components of the U.S. consists of completing preparations for published in the Federal RegisterÐ Department of Defense; the U.S. 36082 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 128 / Thursday, July 3, 1997 / Notices Department of the Interior, Bureau of (o) NASA, Ames Research Center, allows the development program to Land Management; and the U.S. Moffett Field, CA 94035 (415±604± minimize risk while achieving test Department of Transportation, Federal 4190). objectives. The three stage approach Aviation Administration are acting as (p) NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, would necessitate short-range, mid- cooperating agencies. Greenbelt, MD 20771 (301±286±0730). range, and long-range landing sites to DATES: Comments on the DEIS must be (q) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA achieve speeds of March 4, 12, and 15, submitted in writing and received by Resident Office, 4800 Oak Grove respectively. After each test flight, the NASA no later than August 18, 1997 or Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (818±354± X±33 would be ferried back to the flight 45 days from the date of publication in 5179). operations site by a Boeing 747 aircraft the Federal Register of the U.S. (r) NASA, Johnson Space Center, in a manner similar to that used for the Environmental Protection Agency's Houston, TX 77058 (713±483±8612). transport of Space Shuttle orbiters. The notice of availability of the X±33 DEIS, (s) NASA, Langley Research Center, test program is currently planned for a whichever is later. Hampton, VA 23665 (757±864±2497). combined total of 15 flights. (t) NASA, Lewis Research Center, 21000 Reasonable alternatives considered for ADDRESSES: Written comments should Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH this proposed action include: be addressed to Dr. Rebecca C. McCaleb, 44135 (216±433±2222). NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, ÐFlight operations (launch) sites: (u) NASA, Stennis Space Center, MS (a) Edwards Air Force Base, California, AE01/Building 4201, Marshall Space 39529 (601±688±2164). Flight Center, AL 35812. In addition, Space Port 2000 site, and The DEIS can be found and accessed written comments may be sent to Dr. (b) Edwards Air Force Base, California, at the following internet address: http:/ McCaleb electronically at Haystack Butte site; /eemo.msfc.nasa.gov/eemo/x33leis. ([email protected]) or by facsimile ÐShort-range landing sites: Limited copies of the DEIS are available, at 205±544±9259. The DEIS may be (a) Armitage Airfield, China Lake Naval on a first request basis, by contacting Dr. reviewed at the following locations: Air Warfare Center, California, and Rebecca McCaleb at the address (b) Silurian Lake, a dry lake bed, north (a) NASA Headquarters, Library, Room indicated above or Dr. Dominic Amatore of Baker, California; 1J20, 300 E Street SW, Washington, by telephone at the number provided ÐMid-range landing sites: DC 20546. below. Michael Army Air Field, Dugway (b) NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Proving Ground, Utah; Library, Building 4200, Huntsville, Dominic A. Amatore, Deputy Director, ÐLong-range landing sites (may serve as AL 35812. Public Affairs Office, Code CA01, an alternative mid-range landing site): (c) NASA, Dryden Flight Research Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812, (a) Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Center, Library, Building 4800, Room 205±544±6533.