Group says test site launches would not impact the environment

LAS VEGAS - Plans to conduct space launches at the Nevada Test Site would have little impact on the environment, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

A meeting is scheduled May 2 at the Energy Department office in North Las Vegas to discuss the FAA's draft assessment of plans by Kistler Aerospace Corp.

Kistler is proposing to launch reusable space vehicles from the test site, delivering communications satellites and other payloads into low Earth orbit.

The FAA said the launches would have little impact in terms of noise because of the remote location of the site, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

''Due to the remote location of the Nevada Test Site, the potential to affect the public would be limited to actual inflight emergencies,'' the assessment states.

As for noise, the document said, ''Members of the public would be able to hear the launch but would experience a noise level similar to a garbage disposal at one meter.''

Kistler is one of two companies eyeing the test site as a spaceport and the only one that has committed to use the test site. Kistler plans to launch two-stage, reusable space vehicles from Australia also.

Lockheed Martin, which is developing the VentureStar space craft, is the other company considering the test site.

Tim Carlson, president and chief executive officer of the NTS Development Corp., said release of the FAA assessment is the beginning of the licensing process that will lead to Kistler's use of the test site.

NTS is a nonprofit, public-private venture established by Congress to find companies and institutions to use the test site.

The Nevada Test Site was used for the testing of nuclear weapons from 1951 until testing was halted in 1992. The government requires the Energy Department maintain the site in a state of readiness.