European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 30, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday. May 30, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 9 Dod reportedly plans new rocket new York map the Pentagon plans 10 build an experiments rocket thai would he dropped from a b-s2 Bomhof an used to launch military satellites into spare a newspaper reported sunday. The three stage winged rocket would be dropped about seven Miles above the Earth and then blast into space placing  of up to 600 Pound into orbit the new York times reported quoting government and Industry experts. Officials have said hey Hope a Proto Type will Fly next year. The Pentagon wants to lest the rocket for a program designed 10 develop Light weigh satellite and launchers for Var ious military uses including spy and communications satellites wort on the experimental rocket is being pursued by the defense advanced research projects Agency which develop futuristic projects for the Pentagon. Thucuc is concern on Capitol Hill that the rocket could be launched in secrecy the times reported. Although there is an agreement requiring countries with space programs 10 notify the United nations or All payloads going into orbit the Roc act could be fired from Remote parts of the world far from soviet trawlers and spy satellites that Monitor military launching in the United Stales. The Pentagon has Given no indication that it would violate the treaty Obliga Tion but some military officials say privately that it would be useful for the United Stales to have the option of Quick secret launching in the event of War. The Ligh sat program which includes the rocket is part of a five year $240 million Effort. On May 13, the Pentagon signed a let Ter of contractual intent with Orbital sciences to buy one lest rocket with an of lion for five More Industry sources  sciences would be joined by her Cules inc. Which makes solid fuel rockets. The three stage solid fuel rocket would weigh if tons and measure so feet in length. Proponents say the air launched rocket system would be inexpensive Tea vulnerable to attack than ground based spaceport and Ideal for quickly launch ing Small spy satellites to Monitor fast moving Battles. Donald a Latham a former assistant Secretary of defense said the nation looked into air launched rockets 20 years ago and found them wanting. There Are better ways to make systems Tow Cost and  Hughes aircraft under probe on Tow contract los Ancill ils a Hughes aircraft is under investigation because of allegations that it reaped Mil Lions of dollars in improper profits on n 1983 Tow missile contract with the army a newspaper reported saturday. A Federal grand jury in Birmingham ala., has sub of Enate 13 officials of the general motors subsidiary since february alone with executive vice president d. Kenneth a Ichardson. Who is to testify soon a unidentified company spokesman told the los Angeles times. At least seven Federal employers have appeared be fore the jury and recently appointed Hughes president Malcolm r. Cupric was interviewed by the . Attorney s office in Birmingham the newspaper reported. Currie was in charge of Hughes missile systems group in los Angeles in 1983. The spokesman for the firm said the company de Nies any wrongdoing involving the ii20 million con tract that covered production in i9r3 and i9h4. At Issue is whether Hughes negotiated the Deal with out telling the army it anticipated cutting costs by transferring production of mls Sulc wiring systems from a Plant in Tucson. Aril., to one in Eufaula. Ala. If Hughes did anticipate the reduction and failed to Tell the army there May be a violation of the Federal truth in negotiation act the times said. Often defense contractors Musl surrender pan of their profits if production costs arc lower than those anticipated in their contracts. Hughes has built More than -100,000 of the Tow missiles. They Are tube launched optically tracked wire guided missiles which arc designed to attack a Mored vehicles. Earlier this month it was disclosed that another Federal grand jury is investigating whether Hughes consultants in South America diverted some of their fees to a customer in connection with satellite sales. My How you be grown conservationists spirits Are snaring and there s Good a Nasrin. In Uloko the first c turf Virnia Condor combed and hatched in Captivity has in in go did wkly in the last to weeks that officials have cured the bin into a to foot Stu Iii enclosure at the san do re wild Ani Mal Park. Officials Are making sure in that the hand puppet Rwm Lille on adult Condor remains Inse at Hind to make Mallolo Al right it Home. Missing passports leave orchestra Flat  Bremer Baten Bureau Bremerhaven the so member arc Mchaven youth orchestra is ready to play but n missed Handoff of passports 34 of them is adding n sour note to the ensemble s june trip to the United states. The youth group Hopes to leave for Chicago on june 9 for a three week tour that will include concerts in Illinois and Michigan As Well As a stay it the Blue lairs Fine arts Camp near twin lakes mich., or Chestra director Wolfgang nicer said Friday. But the trip hangs on jetting entry visas. A package with the group s passports arrived at the . Consulate in Hamburg april 15, but according to spokesmen for the consulate and the travel Agency booking the trip nobody is certain what happened after that. We know that the passports Are out said John Finnegan consular officer in Hamburg. So some where Between Here and there the passports went As  but Gerhard Frerichs of the Chapag Lloyd travel Agency in Bremerhaven said a Check orc Gislerud mad numbers Between the consulate and travel Agency revealed Only that everything sent out from Hamburg was received in Bremerhaven. No package of 34 passports  Frerichs said. There were Only  despite a backlog caused by pre summer visa re quests there is no possibility that the passports arc still languishing in the consulate which handles 130,000 visa requests each year. We process things As quickly As we can and Don Thold passports Finnegan said they would have been returned certainty by now Nieper theorized the passports May have been Sto Len and sold to persons looking for a Means of entering the United Stales. Nonetheless More than half of his group is without a visa. Thu solution was to turn to German officials in an attempt to get duplicate pass ports for the group. Incl shaven just North of Brem cry Ivan orchestra members were Able to get new pass ports in a Day Nieper said. However in Bremerhaven applicants were told it would Lake three weeks. The next Slop Nieper said was City Hall � Here he pleaded his fax before Bremerhaven mayor Karl Willms among others. Assurances were Given that the bureaucracy would try to accommodate the group and Frerichs said he Hopes to have All the new passions sometime this week. The Ravel department director said he probably would make the two hour trip to Hamburg himself to get the passports. We re going to do All we can to accommodate them Finnegan said. If he s going to come in. Hell be in Good  the orchestra trip will Mark the second Lime Nieper has taken a group to the United states he said. The Blue lakes cultural Exchange program sends fou american groups to Europe and invites 10 foreign groups to Michigan for a cultural Exchange he said. Nicer s musicians pitched in to cover plane and bus transportation costs. The majority of the Bill for each participant is being picked up by the West Ger Man government. Nieper said and . Church groups arc helping to find lodging for the visiting German musicians. Nieper was optimistic that the year of planning put into the project would not be wasted for Lack of pass ports hut he did have one nagging worry. We arc Only worried a Little that Well get to Ameri Ca and find that someone with our stolen passports will already hate arrived. The officials will say but you Are already Here "