Environmental Impact Analysis Process, Environmental Assessment Space Test Experiments Platform Mission 1, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA
Abstract
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing the Act (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), DOD Directive 6050.1, Air Force Regulation 19-2, which implements these regulations in the Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP), and other applicable Federal and local regulations, the USAF has conducted and assessment of the potential environmental consequences of the proposed implementation of the Space Test Experiments Platform Mission 1 (STEP Ml) Program and alternatives. The DOD STP proposes to launch the STEP M1 spacecraft from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California. STP is procuring a space vehicle based on an adaptable spacecraft bus to support numerous STP experiments. The overall goal of the STEP program is to support DOD in obtaining vitally needed scientific data about space and the earth's environment by creating low-cost, lightweight, standardized satellites for science payloads. The payload for this first mission of STEP consists of four DOD experiments, each designed to research different facets of the atmosphere. Once analyzed, this data will promote technological advances in high frequency communications, atmospheric modeling for aircraft and spacecraft, and provide possible insight into the prediction of geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes. The space launch vehicle planned to launch the STEP Ml is the Air Force Small Launch Vehicle (AFSLV), known commercially as the Pegasus XL. The standard Pegasus launch vehicle and associated activities for placing the satellites in orbit have been evaluated in the AFSLV Environmental Assessment (EA) (May 1991) and the Pegasus EA (October 1989). The launch vehicle processing and integration facilities (Building 1555 and Hot Pad Loading Area) at VAFB were previously evaluated in the Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) Commercial Launch Services Program EA (March 1993).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 05, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA413257