NASA Technical Reports Server Mysteriously Taken Offline

Source: NASA Watch

NTRS Collections - NASA Technical Reports Server

"Until further notice,
the NTRS system will be unavailable for public access.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and anticipate
that this site will return to service in the near future."

Keith's note: NASA just yanks this website offline. No press release, no official notice at NASA.gov. Why is this invaluable resource offline? NASA brags about all of its spinoffs and then one of the largest online repositories thereof is stealthily taken offline. Oddly these related NASA sites with linkage to NTRS are still online for "public access".

- JPL Technical Report Server
- NASA Johnson Technical Reports Server

Oh wait - there's this item from Rep. Wolf the other day. Coincidence?

Wolf: Chinese National Potentially Involved In NASA Langley Security Violations

"Second: NASA should immediately take down all publicly available technical data sources until all documents that have not been subjected to export control review have received such a review and all controlled documents are removed from the system."

Read more: http://nasawatch.com/archives/2013/03/nasa-technical.html

7 replies, 1194 views

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7 replies	Author	Time	Post
NASA Technical Reports Server Mysteriously Taken Offline (Original post)	bananas	Mar 20	OP
Lawmaker calls for NASA data review after scientist arrested	bananas	Mar 20	#1
So NASA techs are worried about a security breach and the first person they call is Frank Wolf?	Blue_Tires	Mar 20	#7
Drones Vs. Droids ?	Berlum	Mar 20	#2
yep nothing to see here move along	leftyohiolib	Mar 20	#3
I'm sure China already downloaded everything from NTRS.	bananas	Mar 20	#4
Kicked and recommended.	Uncle Joe	Mar 20	#5
So is our school district's network.	ThoughtCriminal	Mar 20	#6

Response to bananas (Original post)

Wed Mar 20, 2013, 08:34 AM

bananas (20,157 posts)

1. Lawmaker calls for NASA data review after scientist arrested

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lawmaker-calls-for-nasa-data-review-after-scientist-arrested-383640/

Lawmaker calls for NASA data review after scientist arrested
By: Zach Rosenberg Washington DC
12 hours ago

NASA appears to have blocked public access to a server containing thousands of technical documents amidst charges by one US lawmaker over lapses of security involving a Chinese national who was hired as a contractor and was arrested while attempting to return to China.

The developing story centres on the recent actions of Bo Jiang, a research scientist employed at NASA's Langley research center. Bo was arrested on 16 March for lying to federal agents about his possession of a laptop, external hard drive and memory stick, after boarding a flight to China.

Suspicion fell on Bo starting on 7 March, when US Representative Frank Wolf announced at a press conference that concerned NASA employees informed him of lapses in security regarding Bo, a scientist studying imagery enhancements for contractor National Institute of Aerospace.

On 18 March, Wolf called on NASA to take down all public technical information so it could be reviewed for potential violations of export control laws, which tightly regulate spacecraft and satellite components. Wolf also called for "an immediate review" of foreign nationals with NASA credentials, and an audit of NASA contractors that employ foreign nationals on NASA property.

<snip>

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Response to bananas (Reply #1)

Wed Mar 20, 2013, 05:41 PM

Blue_Tires (31,702 posts)

7. So NASA techs are worried about a security breach and the first person they call is Frank Wolf?

What's wrong with this picture??

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Response to bananas (Original post)

Wed Mar 20, 2013, 08:47 AM

Berlum (3,697 posts)

2. Drones Vs. Droids ?

Planetary CyberWar is on.

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Response to bananas (Original post)

Wed Mar 20, 2013, 09:30 AM

leftyohiolib (3,115 posts)

3. yep nothing to see here move along

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Response to leftyohiolib (Reply #3)

Wed Mar 20, 2013, 09:39 AM

bananas (20,157 posts)

4. I'm sure China already downloaded everything from NTRS.

And I doubt there was anything there which was a security problem.
With sequestration, NASA probably won't be able to review the documents, they'll be offline forever.

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Response to bananas (Original post)

Wed Mar 20, 2013, 10:14 AM

Uncle Joe (24,997 posts)