An American scientist who worked for the US defence department and the space agency Nasa has been charged with attempted espionage¹, officials say.

美国官员称，一位为国防部和航空航天局工作的美国科学家被指控有间谍嫌疑。

Mr Nozette developed technology for the Pentagon between 2000 and 2006

Stewart David Nozette tried to give classified information to a person who he believed was an Israeli intelligence officer, the justice department said.

The 52-year-old, who once had top security clearance²（忠诚调查）, was arrested on Monday by FBI agents, it added.

The complaint does not allege³ Israel or anyone acting⁴ for it violated US law.

Mr Nozette, who is expected to appear in court in Washington on Tuesday, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

"The conduct alleged⁵ in this complaint is serious and should serve as a warning to anyone who would consider compromising our nation's secrets for profit," said US Assistant Attorney-General David Kris.

According to an affidavit⁶（宣誓书）, Mr Nozette worked at the White House on the National Space Council from 1989 to 1990, where he developed a radar⁷ experiment that purportedly⁸（据称） discovered water on the moon.

He then spent 10 years at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he designed highly advanced technology.

In 2000, he set up a company that developed advanced technology for the US government, including for the Pentagon and Nasa.

"From 1989 through 2006, Nozette held security clearances⁹ as high as Top Secret and had regular, frequent access to classified information and documents related to the US national defence," the justice department said in a statement.

Last month, Mr Nozette was contacted by an undercover FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence officer, whom he allegedly told he would be willing to regularly answer questions about classified information in exchange for money and an Israeli passport.

Over the course of the next month, the scientist provided letters with answers containing information "classified as both Top Secret and Secret that concerned US satellites, early warning systems, means of defence or retaliation¹⁰（报复，反击） against large-scale attack, communications intelligence information, and major elements of defence strategy", the justice department said.

In return, Mr Nozette accepted cash totalling $11,000, it added.