Shuttle Spy Scandal

[turbopause]

Just came across this story...<br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7239829.stm<br /><br /><quote /><br />Four people have been arrested in the United States for allegedly passing secret defence information to China. <br />A 72-year-old former Boeing engineer is accused of giving China details about the space shuttle and other aerospace programmes. <br /></quote /><br /><br />Maybe there's life in the shuttle after 2012 after all!<br />

 

[vogon13]

Why bother with spying when the Russians would probably hand over everything they have for whatever Kinkos charges to make the copies ??<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[venator_3000]

Yup! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[docm]

Link...<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p><b>Ex-Boeing engineer charged with theft of Space Shuttle secrets for China - DOJ</b><br /><br />February 11, 2008: 02:38 PM EST<br /><br />SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- A former Boeing (NYSE:BA) Co. engineer has been indicted on charges of economic espionage in the theft of company trade secrets related to aerospace programs, including the Space Shuttle, for China, said the Department of Justice on Monday.<br /><br />Dongfan Chung, who was employed by Rockwell International from 1973 until its defense and space unit was acquired by Boeing in 1996, also was charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the People's Republic of China. He is a native of China and a naturalized U.S. citizen, the Justice Department said.<br /><br />The indictment alleges that Chung took and concealed Boeing trade secrets relating to the Space Shuttle, the C-17 military transport aircraft and the Delta IV rocket. Chung allegedly obtained the materials for the benefit of China, the government said.<br /><br />According to the indictment, Chinese aviation industry representatives began sending Chung 'tasking' letters as early as 1979. Over the years, the letters directed Chung to collect specific technological information, including data related to the Space Shuttle and various military and civilian aircraft. Chung allegedly responded in one letter indicating a desire to contribute to the 'motherland,' the DOJ said.<br /><br />Separately, the Justice Department said that a Defense Department analyst and two others have been arrested on espionage charges related to the passage of classified U.S. government documents and information to the government of China.<br /><br />Both Tai Shen Kuo and Yu Xin Kang were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to disclose national def</p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Huntster]

>>When China will have build a shuttle, their space program will be wrecked for decades.<br /><br />lol, I snorted Mountain Dew through my nose, thank you Vishniac. <br /><br />In all seriousness, I love the space shuttle for being what it is, but given the problems the program has faced and the far lower funds the Chinese would likely throw at such a program, why would they want space shuttle data? I can see Delta IV and maybe the C-17 info being valuable, but not shuttle.<br /><br />I guess the real question is how long has this guy been transferring documents? It mentioned he received instructions as far back as 1979, but it doesn't say when the transfers began. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Thanx for the detail in the thread, docm. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[propforce]

<font color="yellow">Shares of Boeing were up 2% at $80.91.</font><br /><br />Now that's a relevant piece of information !! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[propforce]

<font color="yellow">When China will have build a shuttle, their space program will be wrecked for decades.</font><br /><br />We used to joke about this when we have a pile of computer outputs that didn't work, wait till the Russians get a hold of these !! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[lampblack]

From the BBC story:<br /><br /><font color="yellow">He is also said to have sent China 24 secret manuals relating to the B-1 Bomber.</font><br /><br />I suspect this is where the real damage happened in terms of national security. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi lampblack,<br /><br />Yes I agree, the B-1 bomber details would have been a major breach of American security,<br />more so in some respects than the Space Shuttle, though that too is more than <br />serious enough. <br /><br />Wonder if details of the SR-71 Blackbird, U2, etc have been given / sold also?<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[turbopause]

Is there much left in the shuttle that is secret, trade or otherwise?

 

[docm]

IIRC several things are covered under ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), including details of the SSME (space shuttle main engine). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[propforce]

There are differences between ITAR and "export controlled", and they're adminstered by different agencies.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[turbopause]

I didn't think there would be given the detailed information that's available here and places like nsf.<br /><br />I suppose the only big secret now is what was wrong with Hans Schlegel <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[holmec]

Too funny! No Dew thru the nose though. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

"When China will have build a shuttle, their space program will be wrecked for decades."<br /><br />Unfortunately the STS program became a bit of a white elephant. That said, there are some success aspects of the STS. The three main engines (to name one), it would seem, have been very reliable and capable, and I'm sure any budding space exploring nation would love to pour over the blue prints.<br /><br />I'm sure if NASA wanted another space trucking glider, that they could have put something awesome together, since learning from the STS flaws. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>