Posted on 02/07/2007 11:01:22 AM PST by XR7
ORLANDO, Fla. -- On July Fourth, Independence Day, Lisa Nowak triumphantly lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center aboard shuttle Discovery. On Tuesday, 57 miles from the launch pad, she stood before a judge and wore shackles and a blue prisoner uniform.
The married mother of three was charged Tuesday with attempted murder, accused of hatching an extraordinary plot to kidnap Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman, who she believed was her rival for the affections of space shuttle pilot William Oefelein. Nowak had been charged Monday with attempted kidnapping and other counts.
But after two appearances in court and worldwide attention, the core question remained a mystery: What could make a high achiever who flew in space apparently snap so completely seven months later?
At Frenchie's, an Italian restaurant and NASA hangout near the Johnson Space Center, owner Frankie Camera lamented the troubles of a woman he had come to know and admire.
Nowak's autographed photo, taken with the rest of her shuttle crew, hangs in the restaurant, along with dozens of other astronaut portraits.
"She is a brilliant girl. A beautiful girl, normal and nice," Camera said. "When something like that happens to your head, it's sad."
According to police, Nowak's obsession with Oefelein led her to drive 900 miles from Houston to Orlando, bringing with her a trench coat and wig, armed with a BB gun and pepper spray, and wearing a diaper to avoid bathroom breaks on the drive.
Once in Florida, Nowak apparently confronted Shipman at the Orlando airport and sprayed her with pepper spray before Shipman was able to drive away.
Prosecutors based the attempted-murder charge on the weapons and other items police had found with Nowak or in her car: pepper spray, ...BB-gun, ...new steel mallet, a knife, rubber tubing ...several large garbage bags...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
"high achiever"
I blame Global Warming.
It's that hormonal thing.....(ducking)
I guess "crazy in love" about covers it. It could have been worse. She might have been on a mission with the 30 year old and "accidentally" opened the air lock or "accidentally" disconnected the safety line during a space walk. "Oops, my bad. Sorrrrrrrry."
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Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.”
Luke 18:18-19
OK.
I never would have thought of that.
Bush's fault.
Sadly enough, I agree with you - it's hormonal and could repeat itself if Hillarous or Peelousi were in high places.
I believe she has been put on "leave" for 30 days
where'd she get a car that goes 900 miles on 1 tank full?
It lends a kind of
sexy, pop culture twist to
the phrase, "I blame Bush!"
An astronaut would think of wearing a diaper, though. That's what they do when spending many hours in their space suits, waiting for launch time. Not a pleasant thought, but true.
I blame Global Warming.
NO NO NO It's another Bush fault.
No, NASA has placed her on 30-day leave and removed her from mission duties.
"Bush made'er do it."
From NASA, silly.
Blame it on lax BB-gun laws.
Was her mission on the shuttle with the object of her desires? If so... I suggest we have accomplished another 1st in space.
notice all teh attention and sympathy going to the perp and NONE to the victim - even by NASA itself?
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