Nappy happy loopy NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak told: You're Fired

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 09 March 2007 19:43

Science - Space

Interest in former NASA astronaut Captain Lisa M. Nowak does not appear to be abating as NASA deals with its latest crisis: a nappy happy former astronaut gone loopy.

Donald Trump was nowhere to be seen in the most sensational NASA firing ever, that of alleged attempted kidnapper, Capt. Lisa M. Nowak, who is the first astronaut on active duty who has been accused of committing a felony.

A NASA statement said that Capt. Nowak was dismissed because NASA “lacks the administrative means to deal appropriately with the criminal charges”, because as an officer of the Navy, NASA was unable to place her under on “administrative leave without pay or indefinite suspension” as she was not a civil servant. NASA says that this “does not reflect any position by NASA” on the pending criminal case.

Because of this, Nowak is being sent back to the Navy, although they have decided to reserve judgment as they also await the outcome her case.

Nowak is now infamously known for the alleged attempted kidnap of love rival Colleen Shipman in a love triangle with Commander Bill (William) Oefelein.

Although Oefelein and Nowak’s relationship is reported to have seemingly ended amicably after at least a couple of years of effective exclusivity, the pair continuing to train for a bicycle race, with Nowak storing her purple bike at Oefelein’s apartment and with Nowak retaining a key for access.

It is reported that with the key, Nowak was able to gain access to Oefelein’s apartment and computer, and was subsequently able to read a series of ‘sexy’ emails between Shipman and Oefelein which are reported to be the potential cause of Nowak’s subsequent bizarre reaction, which is reported to have seen Shipman drive hundreds of miles, wearing a nappy to avoid taking breaks on the long car journey, to confront Shipman in a bizarre disguise at a parking lot at the Orlando International Airport and attack her with pepper spray before attempting to kidnap her.

Nowak was subsequently arrested and charged. She spent 30 days on NASA leave before being fired. Nowak has been released from jail pending a trial, and must wear an electronic monitoring device.

Nowak is scheduled to report to Navy premises at Corpus Christi in Texas on March 21.

The emails that Nowak was able to access between Oefelein and Shipman are available online.