NASA issues environmental impact statement

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration issued a draft environmental impact statement concerning its Constellation Program.

The Constellation project involves the development of a space transportation system designed to return humans to the moon by 2020. The NASA draft statement examines the effects of developing, testing and operating spacecraft and support systems associated with that project.

The spacecraft to be developed include the Orion crew exploration vehicle, the Ares I crew launch vehicle, the Ares V cargo launch vehicle, a lunar lander and other cargo systems.

NASA officials said the Constellation Program will be based largely upon components and facilities used in the space shuttle program and, therefore, the potential environmental impacts are expected to be similar.

Public comments will be accepted regarding the draft impact statement through September, with a final environmental impact statement expected to be completed by next Spring.

The draft is available at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/peis.html.