NASA Chandrayaan man in spy ring

Stewart David Nozette,the NASA scientist who has been arrested by FBI on charges of spying for Israel,was one of the lead scientists for the mini-SAR equipment that was carried by Chandrayaan-1.

The 52-year-old Nozette,held in a sting operation,is described on his web page on the NASA website as co-investigator for the mini-SAR on Chandrayaan-1. The Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar was one of the 11 instruments on board Chandrayaan-1,and sent some amazing photographs of the lunar surface before Indias first moon mission came to a premature end earlier this year.

Nozettes photograph on the web page shows him at the Taj Mahal.

Story continues below this ad

He was also principal investigator for a similar instrument on NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter that had given the first strong indications of the presence of water on the moon. On his web page,he says the possibility that water could exist on moon was what excited him most about exploring the moon. Incidentally,it was not mini-SAR but another US payload on Chandrayaan-1,the Moon Mineralogy Mapper or M3,that confirmed traces of water on moon.

Nozette has been charged with attempting to provide classified information to Israeli agents in exchange for money.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (Image: Piyush Goyal X/File Photo)

India, US start drafting trade deal; US delegation likely to visit India: Official

Business6 hr ago

India and the US are in talks to finalize a trade deal following successful negotiations in Washington. India's Commerce Minister has stated that any deal will prioritize national interest and explore new markets. He also stressed the importance of making decisions in the best interest of the country, rather than under pressure.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS