An astronaut drove 900 miles and donned a disguise to confront a woman she believed was her rival for the affections of a space shuttle pilot, police said. She was arrested Monday and charged with attempted kidnapping and other counts.
U.S. Navy Capt. Lisa Nowak, 43, who flew last July on a shuttle mission to the international space station, was also charged with attempted vehicle burglary with battery, destruction of evidence and battery. She was denied bail.
Police said Nowak drove from her home in Houston to the Orlando International Airport to confront Colleen Shipman.
Nowak believed Shipman was romantically involved with Navy Cmdr. William Oefelein, a pilot during space shuttle Discovery's trip to the space station last December, police said.
Nowak told police that her relationship with Oefelein was "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship," according to an arrest affidavit. Police officers recovered a love letter to Oefelein in her car.
NASA spokesman James Hartsfield in Houston said that, as of Monday, Nowak's status with the astronaut corps remained unchanged.
Yahoo! News: Astronaut charged with kidnap attempt
:: Wow. After reading this, I somehow feel better about the whole testingate debacle.
...sigh.
That mug shot will have to show up on the Smoking Gun. Its too gnarly not to!
Yikes.
Posted by: NIN | February 06, 2007 at 11:42
Perhaps she should be refered to as a "Astro-Nut"
I doubt the diaper wearing, pepper spray wielding Astro-Nut is going into any oxygen deprived atmospheres any time soon for NASA.
Posted by: Major Cranford, CAP | February 06, 2007 at 21:40
ooops, too late!
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0206073astronut1.html
Posted by: NIN | February 07, 2007 at 09:22
Ever since I heard this on the news the theme from "Animanics" keeps running through my head, slightly altered though.
Posted by: Major Cranford, CAP | February 07, 2007 at 11:09
Her mug shot, kind of looks like Ben Stiller from the movie Zoolander.
Posted by: Major Cranford, CAP | February 07, 2007 at 11:11
She looks like one of the local tweakers (meth addicts) that plague my little berg.
Wouldn't be surprised if drugs weren't involved here.
Posted by: Johnny Yuma | March 03, 2007 at 17:28