Chapter 2 - Alternatives Including the Proposed Action
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DEIS)
FOR THE
EVOLVED EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE (EELV) PROGRAM
April 1998
2.2 ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION
2.2.1 No-Action Alternative
Under the No-Action Alternative, Atlas IIA, Delta II, and Titan IVB launch
vehicles would continue to support space launches to meet the requirements
of the government portion of the NMM, both medium and heavy lift. These
launch vehicles would provide DoD’s source of expendable medium and
heavy spacelift transportation to orbit through 2020. The No-Action
Alternative does not include analysis of commercial launches. Table 2.2-1
presents the peak launch rates of these vehicles to meet the government
portion of the NMM. These launches would continue at existing launch
complexes at both Cape Canaveral AS and Vandenberg AFB (Figures 2.2-1
and 2.2-2), utilizing existing manning levels. The infrastructure, operational
procedures, and safety systems are in place for these launch vehicles at both
Cape Canaveral AS and Vandenberg AFB. Chapter 3.0, Affected
Environment, provides a description of the baseline conditions associated
with these launch programs.
Under the No-Action Alternative, the Air Force would continue to utilize the
Atlas IIA, Delta II, and Titan IVB. Table 2.2-2 and Figure 2.2-3 present the
general characteristics of these launch vehicles. The heavier lift version of
each vehicle has been selected for analysis purposes.
Atlas IIA. The Atlas IIA has the ability to lift payloads of up to 14,000 pounds
to low Earth orbit (LEO). The Atlas IIA consists of two LO2/kerosene fuel
(RP-1) booster engines, a sustainer section, and a CUS (see Table 2.2-2).
The Atlas IIA is launched from SLC-36 at Cape Canaveral AS and SLC-3E
from Vandenberg AFB. Deluge water requirements for the Atlas IIA are
approximately 100,000 to 200,000 gallons per launch. The types and
amounts of hazardous materials utilized for, and hazardous waste generated
from, Atlas IIA launch operations are presented in Section 3.6, Hazardous
Materials and Hazardous Waste Management (Tables 3.6-1 and 3.6-4,
respectively).
Delta II. The Delta II has the ability to lift payloads of up to 7,500 pounds to
LEO. The Delta II is a three-stage launch vehicle with a first stage that uses
kerosene fuel (RP-1) and LO2 (see Table 2.2-2). The second stage utilizes a
mixture of 50 percent unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and
50 percent anhydrous hydrazine (A-50) and N2O4, and the third stage utilizes
solid propellant. Nine SRMs are attached to the first-stage motor to provide
additional thrust. The Delta II is launched from SLC-17 at Cape Canaveral
AS and from SLC-2W at Vandenberg AFB. Deluge water requirements for
the Delta II are approximately 35,000 to 60,000 gallons per launch. The
types and amounts of hazardous materials utilized for, and hazardous waste
generated from, Delta II launch operations are presented in Section 3.6,
Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste Management (Tables 3.6-2 and
3.6-5, respectively).
Titan IVB. The Titan IVB/solid rocket motor upgrade (SRMU) has the ability to
lift payloads of up to 40,000 pounds to LEO. The typical Titan IVB
launch vehicle consists of a two-stage core vehicle that uses N2O4 and a
mixture of 50 percent UDMH and 50 percent anhydrous hydrazine (A-50), two
SRMUs consisting of three segments each and a Centaur Upper Stage (see
Table 2.2-2). The Titan IVB is launched from SLC-40 and SLC-41 at Cape
Canaveral AS and from SLC-4E at Vandenberg AFB. Deluge water
requirements for the Titan IVB are approximately 100,000 to 150,000 gallons
per launch. The types and amounts of hazardous materials utilized for, and
hazardous waste generated from, Titan IVB launch operations are presented
in Section 3.6, Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste Management
(Tables 3.6-3 and 3.6-6, respectively).
Titan II. The Titan II has the capability of carrying payloads of up to
5,600 pounds and is not currently launched from Cape Canaveral AS;
SLC-4W has been utilized for Titan II launches from Vandenberg AFB. No
Titan II launches are currently scheduled, and no future launches are
planned to occur during the peak years considered in this EIS. The Titan II
program is a relatively small program, with infrequent launches in the past;
therefore, the Titan II launch vehicle will not be discussed further or analyzed
in this EIS.
2.3 ALTERNATIVES ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION
Other launch concepts besides an expendable launch system were
addressed in 1994, when a multi-agency SLMP was developed to evaluate
national space launch systems and to improve the United States' launch
capability. The SLMP contained four alternatives for the modernization of the
United States' space launch capabilities: sustaining the existing launch
systems (No-Action Alternative); evolving the current expendable launch
systems (EELV); developing a new, expendable launch system; and
developing a new, reusable launch system.
On August 5, 1994, the President signed the National Space Transportation
Policy, tasking the Secretary of Defense to provide an implementation plan for
improvement and evolution of the current Expendable Launch Vehicle fleet.
On October 25, 1994, the Deputy Secretary of Defense signed the National
Space Implementation Plan for National Space Transportation Policy, which
identified the EELV program as DoD’s solution to reduce the government
launch cost baseline by 25 to 50 percent and lead implementation of DoD
acquisition reform policies.
2.4 OTHER FUTURE ACTIONS AND POTENTIAL FOR CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
No other reasonably foreseeable actions have been identified that could be
considered as contributing to a potential cumulative impact on the
environment along with impacts associated with implementation of the EELV
program.
2.5 COMPARISON OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
A summary of the potential environmental impacts associated with
implementation of the Proposed Action and the No-Action Alternative at Cape
Canaveral AS and Vandenberg AFB is provided in Tables 2.5-1 and 2.5-2,
respectively. Each resource potentially affected by implementation of the
Proposed Action and No-Action Alternative is listed, and proposed mitigation
measures, if applicable, are presented. Local community, land use and
aesthetics, transportation, and utilities are considered factors that could
influence environmental impacts; these factors are not included within the
tables. Impacts to the environment are described briefly in the Summary and
in detail in Chapter 4.0.
Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program