European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 b the stars and stripes thursday March 26,1992 Atlantis beams electrons at Earth in Aurora tests space Center Houston a astronauts aboard the Atlantis fired an Electron beam toward Earth on thursday in Hopes of creating artificial auroras in the heavens and attempted to communicate with russian cosmonauts aboard the Mir space station. Although astronaut David Leestma received sound from Mir around 5 40 . Est his signal was not acknowledged. The Only time a . And russian spacecraft have talked ship to ship was in 1975 during the Apollo soyuz Mission. Astronauts tuned in to Mir last april but it was Uncertain whether the cosmonauts could hear them so they could not have a conversation. The paths of the two spacecraft crisscross during two 90-minute orbits. On the first pass the ships came within about 540 Miles of each other Over Eastern Europe and the former soviet Union As Mir passed below Atlantis Tail. Atlantis seven member Crew is on the third Day of an eight Day Mission to study the Earth a delicate Ozone layer which protects the Earth from the suns ultraviolet radiation and other aspects of the atmosphere. Detroit apr four people All believed to be children have been killed in a House fire that authorities said they suspected was a retaliatory firebombing for a drug Deal gone bad. Three others were injured in the fire which started shortly after Midnight wednesday in the two Story House said fire chief Raymond Grabowski. The victims identities were not immediately available he said but neighbors said they were three siblings Ages 2, 3 and 4, and a 10-year-old girl who was not related to the other victims. New York up1 a the attorney for John Gotti rested his Case after calling Only one witness a tax lawyer who said he advised the reputed mob Boss not to file his tax returns because he was under investigation. After 10 weeks of prosecution witnesses the attorney for gottis co defendant a Frank Locascio also rested his Case wednesday in . District court in Brooklyn. Closing arguments were scheduled for today. Quot what happened to our defense Quot Gotti smilingly asked reporters after attorneys and judge i. Leo Glasser an Electron beam gun a one of 13 scientific instruments in the cargo Bay a was fired thursday in an Effort to create artificial auroras in the Southern hemisphere. Natural auroras Are colourful Light shows that appear in Polar regions when charged particles from solar magnetic storms collide with particles in Earth supper atmosphere. Astronaut Byron Lichtenberg explained that the beams particles travel Down through the atmosphere along one of Earth a magnetic Field lines then collide with and energize atoms of nitrogen and oxygen. As the atoms lose their charge Quot they Emit Energy in particular colors whether its Green or Blue or red or whatever a he said. Astronauts watched thursday As the glowing beam from the gun coursed Down into the atmosphere. The beam was described by astronaut Michael Foale during tests wednesday As a fuzzy bluish Ball some 30 feet Long. Scientists Hope the Experiment will help them understand Earth a magnetic Fields. A Atlantis continues to function very Well a Mission control said thursday morning. Grabowski said officials had information that it might have been a firebombing. He said investigators were working to confirm witnesses accounts that the fire was started in revenge for a drug rip off. Arson and homicide detectives were investigating and several fire companies were keeping an Eye on hot spots in the rubble. About a third of the Brick and Wood Frame House stood charred and smoking wednesday morning. A witness told woj am radio that the fire was set because someone in the House sold fake drugs. Retired to Chambers. A i should be done a song and  Gotti Rapperly dressed As always in a Blue Gray suit with a Light Blue and Pink tie was described by his former attorney Bruce Cutler As frustrated and angry after the defense ended its Case. Cutler won acquittals for Gotti in three prior trials but was barred from representing him in this Case. Gotti and Locascio Are charged with murder racketeering gambling loan sharking obstruction of Justice and bribery. The trial began feb. 12.  says he s perfect after his annual checkup from wire reports Washington a president Bush emerged thursday from four hours of medical exams proclaiming himself in perfect health with no signs of glaucoma that showed up in a previous checkup. Bush completed his annual physical at Bethesda naval medical Center outside Washington telling reporters Quot i feet  reporters called out for the verdict As Bush got into his limousine in a pouring rain. Quot perfect a he said. Asked about any signs of glaucoma in his left Eye that was detected in his 1990 exam he said  Bush faced testing More thorough than that most apparently healthy americans undergo routinely and saw specialists whom most people never encounter. The tests covered in addition to glaucoma past problems with a thyroid disorder mild arthritis and an  Spray clinics Dallas a four abortion clinics were sabotaged wednesday morning when a chemical was sprayed inside filling the businesses with noxious fumes. Fire department spokeswoman Carolyn Garcia said that at least three people among the workers and patients were taken to hospitals and treated for nausea and chemical exposure. Investigators said the vandals drilled holes in the clinics doors to insert tubes or used keyholes or peepholes to squirt the chemical inside. Chemists at the forensic sciences lab in Dallas identified the chemical As Butric acid a Strong smelling fatty substance. Police said no suspects had been  exile hits Jackpot Tallahassee Fla. A a cuban exile who paddled an inner tube to Florida 24 years ago claimed a one third share of last weeks $30.9 million lotto on wednesday. Martin Mona 59, turned in one of three tickets Worth $10.3 million that matched All six numbers in saturdays drawing said Florida lottery Secretary Marcia Mann. Mona a Miami an will receive his prize in 20 annual instalments of $515,000. Mona said he Wasny to surprised to discover his ticket had matched All six numbers in the drawing. A i was expecting it. In be been playing for three years and thought it was my turn to hit it big a he said. The two other winning tickets which were sold in Miami and Hudson have not been turned  on Gays rejected new York a the committee that sets religious standards for the conservative Branch of Judaism rejected a proposal wednesday that would have allowed homosexuals to serve As rabbis in the movements 800 synagogues. The proposal stirred Strong emotions in the movement which believes that jewish Law can change As society a standards change. It received Only one vote in favor. Six votes were needed for the proposal to become official policy. The 35-member committee meeting at the jewish theological Seminary in Manhattan also ruled that its rabbis May not perform marriages or commitment ceremonies for Gay or lesbian  gagging alleged Boston a a Man who authorities said pretended to be choking on Glass at three restaurants has been charged with filing phony medical claims. Shaun a. Smoker 25, of Hampton Falls n.h., filed claims backed up by phony medical receipts authorities said. He collected a total of $3,000 from two hotels in Boston and Worcester they said. A third restaurant never paid. Smoker was charged with insurance fraud larceny and attempted larceny. He could get up to 17vi years in prison. A there is nothing left but soldering rubble after a House fire suspected to be a drug related for bombing killed four people in Detroit Early wednesday. All four victims Are believed to be children. Deadly House fire in Detroit May be drug related revenge Gotti defense Calls 1 witness rests