NASA astronaut in a spot of trouble

**Hawk1** · 02-07-07, 03:41 AM

I think the term 'nut job' applies to this one! I'd be a little nervous going into orbit with her onboard

DISGUISED in a dark wig, glasses and trench coat, astronaut Lisa Nowak waited in hiding to kidnap the woman she considered a rival for another astronaut's affections.

Ms Nowak, 43, was arrested yesterday on charges including battery and attempted kidnapping.

She told police she drove from Houston to Orlando International Airport to confront Capt Colleen Shipman, whom Nowak considered a rival for the attentions of fellow astronaut Bill Oefelein.

Police said Nowak made the trip wearing nappies so she wouldn't have to stop to urinate.

Ms Nowak, a married flight engineer with three children, was awaiting her next flight assignment after travelling aboard the shuttle Discovery in July.

Cdr Oefelein was part of a separate Discovery mission in December that continued construction on the International Space Station.

Capt Shipman is a captain in the US Air Force assigned to the 45th Launch Support Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base, near the Kennedy Space Centre.

About midnight on Monday, Ms Nowak went to the airport disguised in a wig and trench coat, waited for Capt Shipman's flight from Houston to arrive.

She followed Capt Shipman to the car park armed with pepper spray, a steel mallet and a slug gun, police said.

Ms Nowak also carried black gloves, a folding knife with a 10cm blade, rubber tubing and rubbish bags.

In a taped statement given to police, she described her connection to Cdr Oefelein as "more than a working relationship, but less than a romantic relationship".

According to the affidavit, police were called at 3.50am by Capt Shipman, who said she had been followed from the airport to a satellite parking lot by a dark-haired woman in glasses, wearing a trench coat with a hood over her head.

Capt Shipman told police she could hear the woman's footsteps running after her, so she jumped into her car and locked the doors quickly.

The woman then pounded on Capt Shipman's window, asked for a ride and then asked to use her mobile phone.

Capt Shipman refused but rolled down her window just enough to be heard and was sprayed in the face by a chemical that burned her eyes, according to the affidavit.

Capt Shipman was able to drive away to a toll booth for help.

The affidavit said police saw Ms Nowak dumping objects into a rubbish can at a nearby bus stop.

Ms Nowak was identified by Capt Shipman.

In her statement to police, Ms Nowak said she did not intend to physically harm Capt Shipman, but "only wanted to scare Ms Shipman into talking with her".

In a search of Ms Nowak's car, police later found nappies that she told them she wore so she wouldn't have to stop to urinate during her drive.

They also discovered a letter describing how much Ms Nowak loved Cdr Oefelein, emails from Capt Shipman to Cdr Oe-

felein, directions to Capt Shipman's house and receipts indicating Ms Nowak paid only in cash during her trip from Houston.

Police recommended Ms Nowak be held without bail because of the detailed planning, dis-

guises and weapons found in her possession.

Johnson Space Centre spokesman James Hartsfield said: "As of now, her status at NASA is unchanged. I cannot speculate beyond that."

- REUTERS