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The Search for Secret Shuttle Parts
Slashdot readers have been submitting this story about the search
for secret shuttle parts with all sorts of insane conspiracy theories attached to their cut & paste of the URL. It's apparently just the box that handled encryption for messages, so of course Uncle Sam wants it back. Quite the needle in a haystack tho.
The use infrared guidance to find the target. They may use IFOF to identify non-tagets.
I can't find any authoritative source like Jane's that lists this capability. However the idea of denying ordinance to the enemy has been known for years. The term 'spiking his guns' refers to the practice of carrying soft copper nails into battle to drive into the touchports of any captured weapons to stop them being used against them if the tide of battle turns again. Alternatively they might be used to prevent weapons that are about to be lost being turned against them (a less likely occurrence since the guns would usually be aimed in the wrong direction).
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Obscurity is still a great way to increase security. If the "bad guys" can't even see or hold what we have - that is one layer extra they have to overcome to compromise the system.
Changing keys in devices is not a trivial ordeal - you need physical transports to every device needing rekeyed. It's time consuming and opens the door for other temporary exploits.
Obscurity is a good tool but never never never should it be the primary gatekeeper in keeping something secure.
As for the need for encrypted communication - I am sure there are controls in place that actions to be performed by to the shuttle by NASA on the ground. Wouldn't that be a nice thing to have encrypted and authenticated?
Article VIII
A State Party to the Treaty on whose registry an object launched into outer space is carried shall retain jurisdiction and control over such object, and over any personnel thereof, while in outer space or on a celestial body. Ownership of objects launched into outer space, including objects landed or constructed on a celestial body, and of their component parts, is not affected by their presence in outer space or on a celestial body or by their return to the Earth. Such objects or component parts found beyond the limits of the State Party to the Treaty on whose registry they are carried shall be returned to that State Party, which shall, upon request, furnish identifying data prior to their return.
Plus the applicable U.S. code
"Whoever embezzles, steals, purloins, or knowingly converts to his use or the use of another, or without authority, sells, conveys or disposes of any record, voucher, money, or thing of value of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, or any property made or being made under contract for the United States or any department or agency thereof; or..."
NASA has never relinquished control of the spacecraft, in case you hadn't noticed.
I am not a lawyer, nor do I suffer fools lightly...
18 USC 641 disagrees with you. That's what you'll be charged with if you keep Shuttle pieces, as The Smoking Gun has cheerfully shown us in the cases of Merrie Hipp and Bradley Gaudet.
You'll note there's no exception in there for "salvaging" it from your front yard. If it says "U.S. Government Property" on it, I suggest you return it -- but IANAL, so you're free to disregard my advice.