European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday May 13. 1987 the stars and stripes Page 5 weather blamed for rocket s loss Nasa says launch made into Stormy skies Washington a a Nasa investigating Board on monday blamed a bad rail by air Force weathermen for allowing a $78 million Atlas Centaur Racket and its $83 million cargo to he launched in March into eyed Rickiy charged skies where they were destroyed by lightning. Jon r. Busse a Nasa official who headed the investigation into the March 26 Accident said there were a significant number or indications throughout the Day that the weather was unfavourable and specifically that there was a lightning  the air Force made a bad Call on the weather and Nasa missed that bad nil Huss Esaid. Busse said a single lightning Flash Trig gered by the rocket s liftoff was the most probable cause of the ions. The Board found that the launch was made in Viola Tion of he no los in bad weather. If they had followed existing criteria rigorously they would t have hunched said Busse the director of the office of flight Assurance at the Goddard space flight Center in Maryland. Rep. James Scheuer d-n.y., a Mem Ber of t he House science and technology committee said once again we be had a Case where Nasa had the expertise experience and procedures to recognize that a problem existed with the launch but chose to ignore the warning signs and push ahead with the launch hat ended in a costly  Busse said the rocket which was carrying a military communications satellite was hit by four lightning strikes coming out of a single Flash and thai investigators found 10 indications of Light Ning in their examination of the debris. A voltage surge from that lightning found its wily to the digital computer unit ecu on the rocket and altered a single word in the computer memory. That caused the Centaur s engines to swivel changing the rocket s flight path from vertical to horizontal. The vehicle then broke apart. The air Force weathermen gave a go ahead for the launch four minutes before the engines fired. They Haj data by which they could have made the Call Busse said. Asked whether the weathermen misinterpreted it Busse replied  he said no one either in the air Force or in Nasa argued against the launch. The Board is making technical recommendations designed to prevent a recur rence. One is that future Atlas rockets be hardened against lightning strikes. Way cleared for final ruling in Lonetree Case by Norman Black a military writer Washington pre trial proceedings for a Marine embassy guard accused of espionage were completed monday Clearing the Way for a final ruling on whether sol. Clayton. Lon circe will face a court mar tial. As the hearings concluded defense lawyers Dis closed that Cpl. Arnold Bracy also charged in he sound spy scandal at the . Embassy in Moscow has again recanted an incriminating statement Given to investigators at the Lime of his arrest. Bracy in a sworn statement taken 01 or the weekend flatly denied knowing anything of Len Cree s ail cd romantic entanglements or  in opening the embassy to soviet agents. William Kunstler one of Lonetree s attorneys and it. Col. Mike Powell Bracy s chief defense attorney said the sworn statement \=.j entered into evidence during monday s hearing. Kunstler earlier disclosed that Bracy had complained of being coerced into giving his initial statement which reportedly incriminated both marines. The Marine corps in a Brief statement said the article 32 hearing for Lonetree was completed behind closed doors at the Quantico va., Marine base after a month Long recess granted at the defense s request. The corps declined to discuss the Nal Urc f testimony at monday s hearing but predicted that n decision on whether Lon Clicc would be court Martiale would be made Wilhit the next 10 Days Lonetree s Atlo Mays said the hearing ended with a defense motion that a charges against their client be dropped. The 25-year-old Lon carte whose arrest in december touched off a sweeping espionage investigation is accused along with Bracy of allowing soviet agents to roam the embassy at will late at night on numerous occasions last year. Both Lon Ciree and Bracy allegedly became involved sexually with soviet women Lonetree s attorneys have acknowledged that he was involved Wilh n soviet woman who worked at the embassy but they deny that he allowed soviet agents a photo sgt Clayton. Lonetree is escorted Tram hearing. Inside the embassy building. An article 32 proceeding is similar to a grand jury deliberation in the civilian courts although it differs in that a defendant and his attorneys Are allowed to listen othe prosecution s Case and Call heir own witnesses. Under military Legal procedures the hearings arc conducted before an investigating officer who reviews the prosecution s evidence and then recommends whether or court martial should be held and if so on what charges. The hearing officer maj. Robert. No uric will Send his recommendation to the commanding general at Quantico who will make the final decision. The Marine corps has asked Nourie to recommend court martial for Lone rec on 24 counts of violating he uniform code of military Justice including two charges of espionage. Bracy s article 32 hearing is scheduled to resume May 19. Powell said he interviewed the 21-year-old Bracy under oath last saturday in the presence of attorneys handling both cases. A transcript of that session released monday shows that Bracy denied any knowledge of an affair Between Lonetree and a soviet woman and quoted him As de Nying he had Ever seen Lonel rce remove classified documents from the embassy or allow agents inside the building. Did sgt. Lon circe Ever ask you to assist him m providing soviets with Access to controlled areas of the . Embassy Bracy was asked. No sir he did not Bracy responded. Did you and sgt. Lonetree Ever allow soviets in o controlled areas of the . Embassy no sir we did  in another development monday the Marine corps announced that article 32 proceedings for staff sol. Roberts. Stufflebeam will begin May 28. Stuflebeam 2i, was arrested As a result of the Lone tree investigation and is charged with improper fraternization with soviet women while assigned to he mos cow embassy. He has not been accused of espionage. Dutchman guilty of seeking Navy torpedoes for China Sands of time Seattle Wash. Up a dutch National was found guilty monday of try ing to buy sophisticated Navy torpedoes and an accompanying classified manual Wilh the intent of Selling them to China. A Federal jury convicted Johannes Nootenboom of trying to buy a classified manual for the Navy s Mark 48 torpedo and of conspiring with another dutch Ilion Al to sell the manuals and Torpe does to China without an Export License from the slate department. The conspiracy charge is punishable by up to i years in prison and Chr sport charge carries a lop penalty of 10 years in prison and no million Fine. . District judge Barbara tooth Stein set sentencing for june 19. Nootenboom was held Wii Houi bail. The second defendant Hank smile was indicted by a Federal grand jury in april on the conspiracy charge. He is believed to be in the Netherlands Noo Linboom 46, was arrested feb. 19 at Seattle Tacoma International Airport after he offered an undercover customs service agent $10,000 for a copy of the classified manual. The weapon is ies cd and stored at a Navy station in Washington stale Nootenboom told the agent that he would pay s2.4 million for four of the Torpe does which he planned to smuggle out of Chr country to a ship at sea. In Sec l videotapes made before his arrest Nootenboom described himself As an arms merchant dealing with arms in  ious parts of the world. He also asked for help in acquiring electronic equipment for Iran court documents said. In the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. May 13, 1947 Congress considered legislation to make a permanent place for inc women s army corps which celebrated its fifth anniversary. 30 years ago today May 13, 1957 daredevil Spanish sportsman Marquis Alfonso de Portage and his cml River american bobsled Ace Edmund Nelson were killed when  s Ferrari overturned and crashed during the Mill Miglia in Mantua Italy. The crash also killed eight spectators. 20 years ago today. May 13, 1967 ii eco Elizabeth invited the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to join Britain s Royal family at a Public ceremony in London. The invitation marked the first recognition of the american born actress since Edward Viii abdicated the throne to marry her 31 years earlier. 0 years ago  13, h77 Secretary of state Cyrus Vance and top Spanish of kills agreed to set up a combined military planning staff to further cooperation Between the United slates and Spain and ease Spain closer Lonato membership