TWO TEXANS CHARGED WITH STEALING SHUTTLE DEBRIS

AP Breaking News ^ | 5 February 2003 | Joseph Verrengia

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

LUFKIN, Texas (AP) - Two Texans were indicted Wednesday on federal charges they stole pieces of space shuttle Columbia that had dropped onto the countryside. Federal officials in Texas also declared an amnesty period extending until 5 p.m. Friday, during which people who have collected shuttle debris can turn it in without fear of being prosecuted. After that, prosecutions will resume, they said. Merrie Hipp, 43, of Henderson, was charged with theft of government property for allegedly stealing a shuttle circuit board on Saturday.

Bradley Justin Gaudet, 23, of Nacogdoches, was charged in a separate incident with stealing a piece of thermal insulating fabric. Gaudet is a student at Steven F. Austin State University. "The issue here is the thermodynamics of the space shuttle and any piece of that is important to this investigation," said U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby. "No one knows which piece will unravel the mystery." The charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Both defendants awaited arraignment Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities said they are conducting at least 17 investigations into reports of people taking shuttle debris as souvenirs. They would not give specifics or comment on whether those cases were related to attempts by people to sell purported shuttle debris on eBay. "These two individuals are first," Orwig said. "There is no particular threshold. They are an example, whether it's our intention or not. Authorities urged members of the public to take advantage of the amnesty period. "If you turn the piece over and describe where you found the piece, we will not prosecute you," Orwig said.

[Bush2000]

What if the failure can be traced, proveably, to negligence of someone at NASA?

That is possible.

I don't believe that to be the case. It's just a what-if. Calling what they did "stealing" just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Charge them with tampering with evidence or some such.

The basic problem here is that we have to trust somebody to make a determination as to what happened. You, as an individual (or even a group of individuals), would be hard pressed to make a determination based solely on a piece (or even a few pieces) of evidence. I don't think that the Bush Administration is going to defend NASA if it turns out that negligence was involved.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Here's why they're so intense about getting all of the pieces. The REAL reason...

Click here.

[BlueLancer]

Well, MMTU, if your last is true, that's even more reason to whiplash anyone absconding with wreckage.

[lawgirl]

Sound down. I wasn't talking to YOU. You posted the article so I responded to the first post, meaning I am posting a response to the article itself, not you personally.

[Bush2000]

I would be inclined to believe the explanation in the article you posted. The whole "toxic debris" argument made me roll my eyes. Certainly, there could be metallurgical, radiological, or chemical toxins in the debris -- but the likelihood that they pose serious harm to anyone who finds them is remote. NASA clearly doesn't want anyone messing around with the debris. They made that abundantly clear when they prosecuted these two men.

[Bush2000]

I should add that it's unlikely that our government is worried (realistically) about somebody breaking its codes. They probably use public/private key encryption. Compromising the shuttle's private key wouldn't be a big deal because NASA could simply change it (which they probably do, anyway). No, I think that the government is more worried that a foreign government would (a) find some of our decryption/encryption hardware useful (even if they lack our keys: they could still model the same hardware for their own use to thwart us), and/or (b) find a way to exploit a flaw in the encryption/decryption hardware that isn't obvious without reverse-engineering the hardware.

[djf]

I meant by the "negligence" comment that if it was true, no matter how sloppy somebody might have been, they wouldn't get ten years at club fed for it!

But the whole idea raises the posibility that they are worried somebody would find out something they don't want them to know, I don't think thats the case, but I'm just pointing out hypotheticals. Gonna be a tough prosecution, I think.

[Bush2000]

I meant by the "negligence" comment that if it was true, no matter how sloppy somebody might have been, they wouldn't get ten years at club fed for it!

I dunno. Never underestimate a career prosecutor's zeal.

[packrat01]

Yours is the first post mentioning tresspass. If the land is posted, don't the 'rescuers' need permission from the landowner?

[djf]

I would think it is whatever Texas law says.

[Cultural Jihad]

You'll have to file this news article under: "Actions Have Consequences - Boo Hoo Hoo"

[packrat01]

Love your FR web page, BTW - long live the Cav!

Truly a mannerly FR homepage, except for a few discourteous and erroneous remarks about Engineers.

[packrat01]

I would think it is whatever Texas law says.

I think it doesn't matter what any State law says; when the evil.fed.gov shows up and wants something that we may (or may not, even) have.

[Dubya]

LOL. OK I will.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

I wasn't talking to YOU. You posted the article so I responded to the first post, meaning I am posting a response to the article itself, not you personally.

Understand. No problem. I do NOT defend law-breaking and am constantly harrassed for my conservative views which is making me a bit sensitive these days. I simply don't want to take it anymore when I don't have to. I am also approaching the "I don't care what the consequences are point of view..." too. When we allow Muslims to come and live here who hate this country, and illegal aliens who have no vested interest, and... after a while, a fellow just doesn't care any more.

[lawgirl]

When we allow Muslims to come and live here who hate this country, and illegal aliens who have no vested interest, and... after a while, a fellow just doesn't care any more.

I hear ya!! ;-D