This is a disturbing story, which illustrates that astronauts are human, too.
According to MSNBC, NASA astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak has been charged with attempted kidnapping, attempted vehicle burglary with battery, destruction of evidence and battery. Her alleged victim was a rival in a romantic triangle with Navy Cmdr. William Oefelein, an unmarried fellow astronaut.
According to police, Nowak drove 900 miles from Houston to Orlando, where she confronted the woman, wearing a disguise and armed with a BB gun and pepper spray. She was in such a hurry to confront her rival that she wore diapers during the long trip to avoid making bathroom stops.
Lisa Marie Nowak flew onboard the Discovery in July while Commander Oefelein was pilot on the Discovery in December. Although they have trained together, the pair have never flown together.
Nowak was released on $15,500 bond, with the condition that she wear a tracking device and not contact the alleged victim.
Image Credit:NASA
Comments
Nothing like an angry, bb gun wielding, grown woman in diapers to give a whole ‘nuther spin to “the right stuff.”
james
Let’s just all remember that she is a hero!!….Astronuats make mistakes too because they’re only humans. Whatever it is that she is going through it is her personal dilemma. This scandal is nothing different from the Monica Lewinsky scandal back in the 90’s and the United States President is involve in it.
I took an astronaut training program and have experienced the rigors of what astronauts go through…It is highly physical and mental and yet stressful…Could it be possible for an astronaut to “SNAP”? The answer is YES they have families to think about, children to be left when they go on a space mission..On top of it Lisa Nowak was separated recently…Could it be that she is stressed out with her personal life and probably this what made her do what she did.
Hi Vanessa,
You’re right, Lisa Nowak is still a hero in my book. Even heroes make mistakes.I don’t know what she has gone through, or what may have caused her actions. It is news, and I feel it should be reported, but I’m not making judgements here.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Thank You Nick!
My clairvoyant mind is telling me that production for a movie is on the works for this Elite scandal………..
(Fly me to the Moon or Shoot me to Mars if I’m wrong hmmm)But there was something similar to this happened in the past.
The Texas Naval Love triangle murder which they made it into a cheesy LifeTime movie..Well what news never made into a movie, hence 9/11 etc. etc.
I know in time that this will dissipate,It’s now a history that people will never forget.
But Nick, what makes her a hero in your eyes? Is a risk-taking, accomplished race car driver any less a hero? I would agree that risk-taking individuals tend to live life differently, living and partying hard, but are you implying that becoming an astronaut is more noble than other professions? More deserving of our respect? Does it give us the right to demand they meet our idea of social “norms.” There’s lots of pressure there…
james
James,
I don’t consider any sports figure a hero, really, except for someone like Jackie Robinson. Being an astronaut is indeed a more noble profession than a race car driver.
Risk taking doesn’t necessarily make someone a hero; sometimes it just makes them stupid. (Ever read the Darwin Awards?) However, the men and women who explore space are risking their lives for a higher calling.
Lisa Nowak, in my opinion, is still a hero, because of her past accomplishments. I honestly don’t know what to make of her recent activities, and I’ll leave the results of those activities up to the courts.
“However, the men and women who explore space are risking their lives for a higher calling.”
While I agree that risk taking itself doesn’t make one a hero, I don’t know what you’re saying about a “higher calling.” Cars in general improve in performance faster than they normally would due to innovations that come from racing them. That is a tangible benefit of racing (and the money devoted to it is voluntary). What makes being an astronaut a more noble profession? How does society in general benefit from someone riding around in a shuttle? Sure, there’s Tang. But a lot of money goes into flying in space. In my mind, the returns on that money are minimal. I suspect you can enlighten me, though
james