'Love triangle' pilot leaves Nasa

BBC ^ | 26 May 2007 | BBC

[csvset]

The space shuttle pilot involved in a love triangle that led to a bizarre show-down between a female astronaut and her rival is to leave Nasa.

William Oefelein, 42, has been reassigned to the navy, his original corps, the US space agency said.

Astronaut Lisa Nowak, who had an affair with him, is awaiting trial on charges of attempted kidnapping and assault.

In February she drove across five states to confront her love rival and pepper-sprayed her car.

On her 1,600km (1,000 mile) journey from Texas to Florida, Capt Nowak wore a wig, as well as a nappy so she would not have to stop to use the toilet.

She was stopped allegedly carrying an air rifle, a steel mallet and a knife.

Capt Nowak, 44, denies attempting to kidnap her rival - Air Force Capt Coleen Shipman.

She has been sacked by Nasa.

Mr Oefelein admitted having had an affair with her, but said it had been ended before he began dating Capt Shipman.

Nasa gave no reasons for reassigning Mr Oefelein to the navy.

A spokesman said: "Nasa has determined that Cmdr Oefelein's detail is no longer required for the purposes it was originally granted."

[csvset]

Another chapter in the space soap opera.

[Gondring]

"Nasa has determined that Cmdr Oefelein's detail is no longer required for the purposes it was originally granted."

Lots of material here for the FR comedians.

[iowamark]

Nasa has determined that Cmdr Oefelein's detail is no longer required for the purposes it was originally granted

Commander Oefelein: "I be chasin' detail!"

[napscoordinator]

How CDR Oefelein found Capt Nowak attractive is beyond me. What a waste of careers. It is a shame that they could not control themselves. CDR Oefelein is no saint in this.

[johnny7]

NASA: The Not-So-Young and the Restless

[SkyPilot]

How CDR Oefelein found Capt Nowak attractive is beyond me.

She used to be.

Also, the mug shot and court room pictures are not exactly flattering - and in better days she was still an attractive older woman.

Commander Oefelein's career with NASA was destroyed by all of this - and I was going to say he was not guilty of any criminal wrong doing - but I had to think about the UCMJ investigation that was launched in the wake of all of this.

He was having a sexual relationship with Nowak while she was still married (she filed for divorce only last November). While he was divorced at the time, her marriage makes him guilty of adultery by the UCMJ - and that was enough. I have seen at least half a dozen military careers of officers ended this way, and about two dozen enlisted careers.

There is more to this story - the military (they both are still in the military) probably gave him non judicial punishment for adultery. It may come out some day.

[SkyPilot]

She has been sacked by Nasa.

I love the British use of that term.

[SkyPilot]

Related threads...

Bondage photos found in astronaut's car (So, now it gets kinky)

Bondage pics found in astronaut's car [NASA Love triangle]

[billorites]

"She was stopped allegedly carrying an air rifle, a steel mallet and a knife."

Kinky indeed.

People advertise for this sort of thing on craigslist.

Nothing I enjoy more than reading about a good kinky sex scandal on a Sunday morning.

Puts me in such a warm, "holier than than thou" sort of glow.

[sgtbono2002]

When a man allows the little head to do his thinking , attractiveness doesnt always count.

Availability and a willingness to participate is what its all about. This woman was obviously willing and available.

[sig226]

I think NASA and the DoD were embarrassed enough that they would just like the whole thing to go away. Maybe Oefelein is just too stupid to realize that now is a good time to retire. He doesn’t seem to be very wise.

[R.W.Ratikal]

And another reason why women should not be infolved in space exploration.

[Hydroshock]

It sounds like form his age he just hit 20 years and got out with the benifits.

[STONEWALLS]

“....the military (they both are still in the military) probably gave him non judicial punishment for adultery....”

when I was an Army officer an Article 15 meant the end of your career

[jwpjr]

There was a great country song, years and years ago, “Older Women Make Good Lovers”. Sort of appropriate for this story.

She is indeed very attractive in this photo. It’s pretty amazing what love, lust in the case of a man, will lead someone to do. Sad story.

[leadpenny]

Also here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840181/posts
‘Love triangle’ pilot leaves Nasa

[festus]

People advertise for this sort of thing on craigslist.

And you know this because you read the ads they post for it ????

;-)

[doug from upland]

LISA SING-ALONG ON YOUTUBE — http://youtube.com/watch?v=mz4trRQXXek

[radarfuture]

Oefelein should have been fired for very (very, very, very) bad eye sight. Nowak was a pretty good looker, a few years ago. But Shipman is butt ugly. And she is fairly young now just think how she will look on down the road! Ugh, he risked his career for that? Unbelievable! Wonder how many astronauts she tried to pick up (with good eye sight) before she got a taker with bad eye sight.

[Perdogg]

He’s a year older than me, but he looks 50.