Most of the media’s attention to airlines divulging passenger data to the government has focused on JetBlue’s offering up information in violation of its own privacy policy and then covering it up.

Something that’s gotten far less publicity is that NASA requested a significant amount of passenger data from Northwest Airlines. NASA initially denied having made the request but then confirmed it.

Stonewalling by NASA and Northwest Airlines has left it unclear what information, if any, was actually shared and what was done with any information that was transferred.

It does seem odd, though, for NASA to be entering the airline security game.