Officials Worried Shuttle Could Be Target

May 14 — There is no specific threat, but U.S. intelligence sources tell ABCNEWS that NASA officials are increasingly worried that the July 19 launch of the Space Shuttle, which will be carrying an Israeli astronaut for the first time, could be a prime target for terrorists.

The fear is that the launch could be vulnerable to a suicide attack by a small, low-flying plane, the sources said.

Giving weight to the concern is the fact that suspicious activity has been observed around the launch complex that could have been surveillance, the sources said.

NASA officials are requesting additional security, though military sources say it is hard to imagine having more security in the area.

Previous launches of the shuttle have been protected by a warship off the coast and an AWACS early warning plane overhead, along with fighter jets patrolling the airspace around the launch site.

But having an Israeli astronaut on an American rocket could make the launch a target too attractive for some desperate terrorist groups to resist, the intelligence sources said.

Concerns about the space shuttle launch come amid new unspecified and unsubstantiated threats against American nuclear plants on or around July 4 and heightened fears about the possibility of weapons of mass destruction being smuggled into the United States on cargo ships.

The Coast Guard now insists that vessels give notice 96 hours in advance of when they plan to reach a U.S. port. A Sea Marshal goes out to meet every ship before it gets to port.

Jennifer:

Next launch go down to Port Canaveral or just about anywhere in Cocoa and you'll get a heck of a view. Best place to watch that is not on the KSC property itself is the beach at the Port Canaveral ship channel. The beach is a nice place to watch from 'cause you'll see it arc out over the water. It's also interesting to watch the boosters fall away after they separate. Highly ecommended. Shows what a free people can do.

I lived in Indiatlantic in those days and I could watch all the launches by just walking out to the beach and looking to the North. I was a long-haired, pot-smoking Democrat in those days watching with growing admiration an "actor" named Ronald Reagan. I date my conservative Renaissance from my association with brilliant military men and civilians at Kennedy.

NASA officials are increasingly worried that the July 19 launch of the Space Shuttle, which will be carrying an Israeli astronaut for the first time, could be a prime target for terrorists.

Wealthy American's spend their own hard-earned cash ($20 million) to go on a tourist ride on the Russian shuttle. Fine.

But why should American taxpayers be subsidizing similar joyrides for Israelis???

Let Israel build their own dang space shuttle.

It's time to defund NASA for all but national defense purposes.

Let the private sector launch their own sattelites.

I don't think the terrorists would target the shuttle, no matter how spectacular it might be. It simply wouldn't carry a high-enough body-count. They are looking for kill ratios

If these reports from "officials" are correct, we know there is surveillance of high profile targets going on. Among the materials they found last week when they arrested the students in Virginia, were maps of oil refineries. If you put together all of these bits and pieces of information coming out lately we can surmise that something is in the planning. I don't necessarily think that mass casualties is their only goal. They are out to destroy us financially as well. A high profile target like the shuttle is just the type of target they are after, as well as famous landmarks.

Have you got a link about those students arrested with the maps of the refineries?

I don't have the link but here's the article that was on FR on 5/9. It was actually a listing of names of oil refineries, not a map.

Documents: Suspect had flight manuals, WTC pictures and datebook with one entry - Sept. 11

May 9, 2002 | The Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- A suspect in an alleged scheme to obtain fraudulent student visas had flight manuals, a drawing of a plane striking one of the World Trade Center towers and a date book with a lone entry: Sept. 11, according to court documents.

The Virginian-Pilot obtained the documents that were used to justify the arrests of five suspects in the Norfolk area Tuesday. They were among more than 58 people arrested in 13 states on Tuesday.

The newspaper reported Thursday that materials seized in northern Virginia also included a Federal Aviation Administration flight manual, photos of men posing outside the trade center and an aerial view photograph of the Pentagon. It said another suspect, who lived in Norfolk, had a CD-ROM with the words "Gainesville" and "flight school" on it.

The FBI and other agencies are investigating whether any of the individuals had ties to the terrorist attacks or connections to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.

The court documents were filed in connection with the arrests of suspects in what prosecutors called a nationwide ring that used stand-ins to fraudulently take English-language proficiency exams for 130 foreign students. Passing the exams would allow them to stay in the United States legally.

Raids carried out Tuesday in 13 states led to 58 arrests, mostly students accused of paying others to take the exam for them. The test is required by many colleges and universities as proof that foreign students are complying with the terms of student visas under which they entered the country.

Among the other items seized in northern Virginia, the Pilot reported, were phone listings containing locations of oil refineries; a date book that contained the Sept. 11 entry and the words "Trackd the World Trade Center or the Pentagon trackd for the plaen"; a book identifying commercial airliners; and videos titled "Incredible Air Disasters" and "Incredible Water Disasters."

The court records did not identify the location of the home or its occupant. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey said more than 130 individuals are involved, and more arrests are expected. The case is being handled in New Jersey because the test is run by a Princeton firm.

Spokesmen for U.S. Attorney's Offices in New Jersey and Virginia declined to comment on the search warrants.

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