US reveals ISRO moon mission had Israeli spy

t_co

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US reveals ISRO moon mission had Israeli spy

The arrest by the FBI of American space scientist Stewart David Nozette for espionage on Monday has cast a shadow over India's Chandrayaan-I mission that successfully located water on the moon's surface recently.

ISRO has distanced itself from Nozette and has dismissed the arrest as NASA's internal matter, there is evidence that the scientist, who was spying for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, was closely involved with India's moon mission.
 

Voldemort

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In an exclusive interview to NDTV's Pallava Bagla, Nozette had explained his India connection as he worked.

NDTV: And how much are you paying ISRO to carry your instrument?
SN: Oh ISRO is, we are guests. We are not paying ISRO anything. It's a collaboration between ISRO and NASA.

NDTV: Oh It's a collaboration between ISRO and NASA where ISRO is giving you a free ride to the moon?
SN: Well, effectively.

NDTV: Effectively. And you are sharing data or something with ISRO?
SN: We're sharing all the data with ISRO.

NDTV: So when water is found and if there is spoils to be shared, ISRO and NASA and LPI would be together in that?
SN: We are all partners.

NDTV: We are all partners in that. And how much did it cost to put this Minisar together?
SN: It was tens of millions of dollars.

NDTV: That's expensive!
SN: But compared to a dedicated satellite, it's pretty good deal for NASA.

NDTV: Oh so you get to fly your instrument without having to pay this hundred million dollars which ISRO is spending for this satellite
SN: More in the United States, I'll say.

NDTV: So it's a good deal?
SN: Very good deal for NASA and ISRO. Really opens up collaboration between NASA and ISRO which hasn't happened on this scale before. So it helps us in a lot of ways.

NDTV: So did you enjoy working with ISRO?
SN: Yes, very much.

Nozette once had top security clearance, and developed technology for the Pentagon between 2000 and 2006.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/us-spy-worked-with-india-s-moon-mission-10282
 

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India is confident that Nozette had no access to any confidential information during his work with Chandrayaan. 'Nozette did visit ISRO facilities at least twice, but he was NOT allowed into the sensitive and restricted areas. ISRO's security has not been compromised. This arrest is an internal matter of NASA,' says A. Bhaskara Narayana, Scientific Secretary to ISRO.
 

W.G.Ewald

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Why did Deccan Herald print this years old story? FBI arrested him in 2009.
 

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