Robert Block | Sentinel Space Editor

Federal officials Monday arrested a former Boeing engineer on charges of stealing trade secrets from the space-shuttle, Delta IV-rocket and other programs and sending them to agents of the Chinese government.

In an indictment filed in California, prosecutors accused Dongfan "Greg" Chung, 72, of acting as an agent of the People's Republic of China in a case spanning 30 years.

The case highlights what government officials say are ongoing efforts by Beijing to steal U.S. space technology -- especially if it has possible military applications. The shuttle once was considered a military project and the Delta IV is used to launch reconnaissance and other top-secret satellites into orbit.