'Not guilty' pleads accused ex-astronaut

Stephen Withers
Friday, 23 March 2007 12:44

Science - Space

Lawyers representing former US Space Shuttle astronaut Lisa Nowak have entered a not guilty plea to charges relating to her alleged attempt to kidnap Colleen Shipman.

Nowak apparently considered Shipman - a US Air Force captain - to be a rival for the affections of fellow astronaut William Oefelein. She has been charged with attempted kidnapping, burglary with assault and battery.

Currently on bail, Nowak was fired by NASA and the US Navy is transferring her to its Air Training Command.

The case has attracted considerable international interest. Apart from the usual prurient interest in any 'love triangle' and the celebrity status of astronauts, the story involves a series of amorous emails sent to and from the Space Shuttle between Oefelein and Shipman that were subsequently discovered by Nowak and then made public by the state attorney's office, and reports that Nowak used nappies (diapers) to reduce the number of stops when she drove from Houston to Orlando where the alleged assault took place.