High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor (HEDI) Technology Testing Program Environmental Assessment

摘要

The High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor (HEDI) is one of the many technologies being considered in the SDI technology research program and has the potential to support the requirements for the strategic defense system. The purpose of this Environmental Assessment (EA) is to analyze the environmental consequences of testing activities for the HEDI technology test program in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The HEDI is a technology that would employ ground-based missiles to intercept and destroy hostile submarine-launched ballistic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles during that portion of flight that puts the target in the high endoatmosphere (the terminal portion of an attacking missile trajectory). The HEDI vehicle would consist of a two-stage launch vehicle (booster) and kill vehicle with a conventional warhead. The basic thrust of the efforts already accomplished has been to assess the operational utility of HEDI in the context of a complete strategic defense system.