Regulacje i polityka gospodarcza · 7.10.1996

National Environmental Policy Act; X-33 Program: Vehicle Design and Flight Demonstration

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Part 1500-1508), and NASA policy and procedures (14 CFR Part 1216 Subpart 1216.3), NASA intends to prepare an EIS for Phase II of the X-33 Program (hereinafter referred to as the ``Program''), which would involve development and demonstration of the X-33 test vehicle. The EIS will address environmental issues associated with the fabrication, assembly, testing, and preparation of the flight operations and landing sites associated with the X-33 technology demonstrator spaceplane. The purpose of the proposed test program is to demonstrate the feasibility of technology which could result in commercially viable Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV's) with certain aircraft-like operational characteristics. The proposed Phase II of the Program would involve final design, assembly and testing the X-33 vehicle by the year 2000. Flight operations and landing site alternatives are under consideration to satisfy flight testing requirements. The flight test demonstration program would require s