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'''Lisa Marie [[Novak|Nowak]]''' (née '''Caputo''') (born [[May 10]] [[1963]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]), is an [[United States|American]] [[astronaut]] and [[captain (naval)|captain]] in the [[United States Navy]]. She flew her first mission into space onboard the [[NASA]] [[Space Shuttle]] mission [[STS-121]] in [[July 2006]].
'''Lisa Marie [[Novak|Nowak]]''' (née '''Caputo''') (born [[May 10]] [[1963]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]), is an [[United States|American]] [[astronaut]] and [[captain (naval)|captain]] in the [[United States Navy]]. She became an astronaut for [[NASA]] in 1996 qualified and as a [[mission specialist]] in [[robotics]]. Novak flew her first mission into space onboard the [[Space Shuttle]] during mission [[STS-121]] in [[July 2006]]. She was responsible for operating the robotic arms of the shuttle and the [[International Space Station]].


On [[February 5]], [[2007]] she was arrested in [[Orlando, Florida]]. Police allege she was planning to [[kidnapping|kidnap]] and [[murder]] a romantic rival.
On [[February 5]], [[2007]] she was arrested in [[Orlando, Florida]]. The Orlando Police charged Novak with attempted [[kidnapping|kidnap]] and attempted [[murder]] of a romantic rival, [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] [[Captain (United States)|Captain]] Colleen Shipman. Novak was released on bail and returned to [[Houston, Texas]].


==Biography and career==
==Biography and career==

Revision as of 19:17, 9 February 2007

Lisa Nowak
NationalityAmerican
Space career
Astronaut
Previous occupation
Test Pilot
RankCaptain, USN
Time in space
12d 18h 36m
Selection1996 NASA Group
MissionsSTS-121
Mission insignia
File:Sts121 crewpatch.jpg

Lisa Marie Nowak (née Caputo) (born May 10 1963 in Washington, D.C.), is an American astronaut and captain in the United States Navy. She became an astronaut for NASA in 1996 qualified and as a mission specialist in robotics. Novak flew her first mission into space onboard the Space Shuttle during mission STS-121 in July 2006. She was responsible for operating the robotic arms of the shuttle and the International Space Station.

On February 5, 2007 she was arrested in Orlando, Florida. The Orlando Police charged Novak with attempted kidnap and attempted murder of a romantic rival, U.S. Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman. Novak was released on bail and returned to Houston, Texas.

Biography and career

Nowak is the daughter of Alfredo and Jane Caputo of Rockville, Md. She first became interested in the space program when she was five years old, watching the Apollo moon landings and later followed the space shuttle program, particularly the introduction of women astronauts, while she was growing up. She graduated from C.W. Woodward High School in Rockville, Maryland in 1981 and received a BS degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985. Nowak received an MS degree in aeronautical engineering and a degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering in 1992 from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.[1]

She received her commission from the U.S. Navy in 1985 and became a naval flight officer in 1987. After her postgraduate studies Nowak entered Aerospace Engineering Duty and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. She logged over 1,500 hours of flight in over 30 different aircraft during her career in the Navy, and obtained the rank of captain.[1]

Nowak was selected to be an astronaut in 1996 and entered the astronaut corps at Johnson Space Center in August of that year. She qualified as a mission specialist in robotics and went into space July 4, 2006 on the STS-121 mission which included a trip to the International Space Station. Nowak served as mission flight engineer, operated the shuttle's robotic arm during several spacewalks and logged almost 13 days in space.[1] She was the first Italian American woman to go into space, carried a National Organization of Italian American Women gold pin during her flight and is a Roman Catholic.[2]

Nowak married Richard T. Nowak, a classmate at both the Naval Academy and Navy flight school, in 1988.[3] Richard Nowak is employed by a NASA contractor at Johnson Space Center.[4] The Nowaks have three children, a son born in 1992 and twin daughters born in 2001.[2] While the Nowaks are still married, a statement from the family indicated that they separated in January 2007.[5]

Her reported hobbies, characterized by one national magazine as a "seemingly focus-group-tested list,"[6] include reading, running, piano, gardening, skeet shooting, gourmet cooking, rubber stamp collecting and crossword puzzles.[1][7]

Alleged attempted kidnapping and murder

On February 6, 2007 NASA placed astronaut Lisa Nowak on 30 day leave and removed her from flight status following her arraignment in Florida on charges of attempted 1st degree murder.

On February 5, 2007, Nowak was arrested at Orlando International Airport on charges of attempted kidnapping, battery, attempted vehicle burglary with battery, and destruction of evidence. The Orlando Police Department says she told investigators she was involved in a relationship with fellow astronaut William Oefelein, with whom she trained, which she described as being "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship."[8] She allegedly believed U.S. Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman, who works as an engineer at Patrick Air Force Base,[9] was involved with Oefelein.[10] In a handwritten request for a protective order against Nowak after her arrest, Shipman referred to Nowak as "acquaintance of boyfriend" but did not identify him. Shipman also claimed Nowak had been stalking her for two months.[11]

Arrest

According to police and news reports, upon arriving on a flight from Houston, Shipman said she was aware of someone following her to a satellite parking area and when she got into her car, she heard running steps and quickly locked the door. Nowak slapped the window and tried to open the car door, asked for a ride, then started crying. Shipman rolled down the window a couple of inches and Nowak allegedly sprayed pepper spray into the car. Shipman drove off to the parking lot booth where police were summoned.[12]

Nowak was reportedly arrested after the first police officer to arrive saw her attempting to throw a bag containing a wig and a BB pistol into the trash at a parking shuttle bus stop. The Orlando Police said Nowak had disguised herself during the assault by wearing a hooded tan trench coat and black wig and, along with the BB gun, was carrying a four-inch folding buck knife, a new steel mallet, black gloves, rubber tubing, plastic garbage bags and about US$600 in cash. In her statement to police, Nowak said she wanted to talk to Shipman and discuss their relationships with Oefelein. When asked if she thought the pepper spray was going to help her talking with Shipman, she replied, "That was stupid." During a search of Nowak's car parked at a motel, the police found a letter written by Nowak which they said "indicated how much Mrs. Nowak loved Mr. Oefelein," along with latex gloves, opened packages for both a buck knife and pepper spray, an unused BB cartridge, handwritten directions to Shipman's house, copies of e-mails from Shipman to Oefelein, and diapers.[13] The astronaut explained she had used the latter during the 900-mile (1400-km) drive from her home in Houston, Texas to Orlando so she did not have to stop to urinate (U.S. shuttle astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry). They also found receipts indicating Nowak paid only in cash during her trip from Houston, including for her hotel stay.[14] Citing evidence of elaborate planning, disguises and weapons, police recommended she be held without bail.[10]

Arraignment

Two fellow astronauts flew to Florida in NASA T-38 Talon jets to visit Nowak in jail and otherwise make contact with her:[15] Christopher Ferguson, senior Naval Officer in the astronaut corps, went as Nowak's commanding officer, and retired Air Force Colonel Steve Lindsey, who had commanded Nowak's Shuttle mission, went as chief of the NASA astronaut corps. On February 6, 2007, both appeared before a judge on her behalf wearing brown leather jackets. The state attorney argued that the facts indicated a well-thought-out plan to kidnap and perhaps to injure Ms. Shipman.[12] While arguing for pre-trial release Nowak's attorney remarked, “One’s good works must count for something.” Nowak was ordered released on $15,500 bail under the condition she wear a GPS tracking device[16] and not contact Shipman.

Before Nowak could be released, however, Orlando police charged Nowak with attempted first-degree murder and announced she would not be released on bail. Her lawyer alleged that police and prosecutors, unhappy Nowak had been granted bail, pressed more serious charges solely to keep her confined to jail.[9][17] In the second arraignment Nowak was charged with attempted first degree murder with a deadly weapon, for which the judge raised bail by $10,000. After posting bail, Nowak was released from jail.[8] She was subsequently placed on 30-day leave by NASA.[18]

Reactions

This event has been widely covered by US media and attracted worldwide interest. "The mood at NASA is we're stunned," said space agency spokesman James Hartsfield. He added that in spite of the extensive psychological testing astronauts go through, "we don't track the personal lives of the individuals that work for the agency." When asked about the arrest after Nowak's first arraignment, Ferguson said, "Perplexed is the word I'm sticking with."[13] Retired astronaut Jerry Linenger expressed concerns about NASA's screening process, commenting that with plans for a 30-month trip to Mars, it would be dangerous for someone to "snap like this" during a mission.[19]

Former NASA psychiatrist Dr. Patricia Santy commented, "I really believe that NASA goes overboard in promoting how heroic and super all these people are. They themselves have forgotten these are ordinary people and in that kind of celebrity culture, there's a sense of entitlement." Space policy and history writer Howard McCurdy of American University said, "The astronaut culture is still a carry over from 'The Right Stuff' days. It is very high intensity; it is very competitive."[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Astronaut Bio: Lisa M. Nowak". NASA. October 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-06.
  2. ^ a b McLaughlin, Moira E. (2006-10-26). "Shuttle astronaut visits Stone Ridge". The Catholic Standard. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Boyce, Nell (2007-02-06). "Astronaut Faces Attempted-Murder Charges". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved 2006-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Schneider, Mike (2007-02-07). "NASA to Review Screening Process". Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-02-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Statement From the Family of Lisa Nowak". EarthTimes.org. 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1587281-3,00.html
  7. ^ "Preflight Interview: Lisa Nowak". NASA. 2005-08-11. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b Watson, Traci (2007-02-07). "Astronaut posts bail after being charged with attempted first-degree murder". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-02-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b Curtis, Henry Pierson (2007-02-06). "Space shuttle astronaut arrested at OIA on attempted kidnapping, battery charges". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b "Orlando Police Department charging affidavit" (PDF). Florida Today. 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Astronaut facing attempted murder, kidnapping charges in 'love triangle' returns to Texas". Associated Press. 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2007-02-08. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |l ast= ignored (help)
  12. ^ a b Hauser, Christine (2007-02-06). "Astronaut Charged with Attempted Kidnapping". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ a b Schneider, Mike (2007-02-06). "Astronaut charged with kidnap attempt". Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Liston, Barbara (2007-02-06). "Astronaut in bizarre kidnap plot in Florida court". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-mastmain0707feb07,0,4924087.story
  16. ^ Associated Press (2007-02-06). "NASA Astronaut Lisa Nowak Charged With Attempted Kidnapping, Released on Bail". FoxNews.com. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Astronaut charged with attempted murder". Associated Press. 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Statement Regarding the Status of Lisa Nowak" (Press release). NASA. 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2007-02-07. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Schneider, Mike (2007-02-06). "Astronaut Charged With Attempted Murder". Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-02-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070209/D8N62FQG0.html

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