Engineer Charged with Theft of Space Shuttle Secrets for China

Via CNN -

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.

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.

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.