James Beggs the Challenger Disaster and Operation "Lightning Strike"

[JCM]

Operation "Lightning Strike"

Can we have a Operation Lightning Strike thread? What of the post Challenger disaster James Beggs indictment on charges of overcharging the defense department while he was a private contractor? I am curious as to what JREFers thoughts are about these subjects.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

A quick Google shows it to be a "science fiction" novel by Nick Pope.

Do you have an opinion?

 

[dafydd]

Don't tell me that there is a conspiracy theory about this too?

 

[JCM]

A quick Google shows it to be a "science fiction" novel by Nick Pope.

Do you have an opinion?

On the novel no. I didn't know the post title was the actual title to a novel. The topics are no science-fiction. There was an operation Lightning Strike "sting" on NASA by LEO. James Beggs was indicted on charges of overcharging. My opinion is these are two real though seperate and possibly unrelated incidents. I'd like more information from those knowledgeable of the facts.

Don't tell me that there is a conspiracy theory about this too?

Well the two events are curious to say the least. Were LEO conspiring against NASA? Were NASA personnel conspiring to illegally profit? I don't want to put forth a theory but do wish for more clairity from those here well versed in either or both events.

Exerpts/Links from period news articles

Dec 1993 New Scientist

While NASA's astronauts were chasing the Hubble Space Telescope last week, FBI agents were on the trail of corruption within NASA. Employees at NASA and some of its contractors are alleged to have been bribed to influence which commercial experiments would be flown in space. The night before the shuttle Endeavour took off on its repair mission to Hubble, television journalists in Texas disclosed that the FBI had uncovered fraud at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

During Operation Lightning Strike, an FBI agent paid bribes to have a nonexistent medical apparatus included on the payload of a future shuttle flight. Employees of NASA and its contractors also provided confidential information about the space agency's plans. At least one astronaut is alleged to be involved.

Dec 1985 Chicago Tribune

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury Monday indicted General Dynamics Corp. and four of its current or former executives, including James M. Beggs, director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, on charges of trying to defraud the Pentagon of millions of dollars to cover losses on a 1978 defense contract.

The seven-count indictment, returned by a grand jury in Los Angeles, charged that the company and the four men conspired to cover losses on a $40 million contract involving the ill-fated Sgt. York air defense gun by illegally mischarging contract expenses to other government-funded accounts.

 

[Travis]

I don't know anything about Operation Lightning Strike the but the York gun system was a pretty good example of why politics should not drive military procurement.

 

[JCM]

GD was involved with the York right?

 

[Spindrift]

A defense contractor overcharging the Pentagon NASA?

And the conspiracy theory is what exactly?