Love triangle astronaut charged

HOUSTON – Astronaut Lisa Nowak’s attack on a rival for the affections of a fellow astronaut sent shockwaves on Tuesday through a tightly knit Nasa community accustomed to its crew members showing the “right stuff” and not getting involved in love triangles.

Johnson Space Centre director Michael Coats said in a statement the space agency was “deeply saddened by this tragic event” and that Nowak, based in Houston with the rest of Nasa’s astronaut corps, would go on leave, ineligible for space flights until further notice. JSC spokesperson John Ira Petty said Nowak’s work had been exemplary and there was never an indication that the married mother of three had problems.He added: “We don’t get deeply involved and generally don’t concern ourselves with the personal affairs of our employees.”Nowak separated from her husband, also a Nasa employee, a few weeks ago.Nowak was freed on a total of $25 500 bail on Tuesday after her arrest on Monday in Orlando, Florida, for assaulting US air force captain Colleen Shipman, her romantic rival for astronaut Bill Oefelein.Nowak was charged with several crimes, including attempted murder.Police said Nowak, 43, drove 1 530km from Houston to Orlando wearing diapers so she would not have to make a bathroom stop in her haste to catch Shipman as she arrived in Orlando on a flight from the Texas city.Nowak told police she only wanted to talk her but she was caught with a knife, mallet and BB gun after she sprayed Shipman with pepper spray.Nampa-ReutersJSC spokesperson John Ira Petty said Nowak’s work had been exemplary and there was never an indication that the married mother of three had problems.He added: “We don’t get deeply involved and generally don’t concern ourselves with the personal affairs of our employees.”Nowak separated from her husband, also a Nasa employee, a few weeks ago.Nowak was freed on a total of $25 500 bail on Tuesday after her arrest on Monday in Orlando, Florida, for assaulting US air force captain Colleen Shipman, her romantic rival for astronaut Bill Oefelein.Nowak was charged with several crimes, including attempted murder.Police said Nowak, 43, drove 1 530km from Houston to Orlando wearing diapers so she would not have to make a bathroom stop in her haste to catch Shipman as she arrived in Orlando on a flight from the Texas city.Nowak told police she only wanted to talk her but she was caught with a knife, mallet and BB gun after she sprayed Shipman with pepper spray.Nampa-Reuters