NASA fires troubled astronaut

By Erwin Seba

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Astronaut Lisa Nowak was fired by NASA on Wednesday, little more than a month after she was arrested on charges that she tried to kidnap a woman she regarded as romantic rival for the affections of a space shuttle pilot.

NASA said the decision to terminate Nowak from the astronaut corps was by "mutual agreement" between the space agency and the Navy, where she is still an active duty officer.

The bizarre incident that led to Nowak's arrest on February 6 so stunned NASA that it announced it would review its screening process for the highly competitive and prestigious astronaut program.

NASA said it "lacks the administrative means to deal appropriately with the criminal charges pending against Nowak" and that her next assignment would come from the Navy, which had assigned her to the space agency.

A spokeswoman for Nowak, Cari Brunelle, said NASA's decision "was anticipated."

Nowak, 43, a Navy captain who became an astronaut in 1996 and flew just one space shuttle mission in July, was placed on leave after she was arrested last month in Orlando Florida. She was accused of assaulting and trying to kidnap Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman, whom she viewed as a rival for the affections of astronaut William Oefelein, a commander in the Navy.

Police said Nowak, a mother of three, drove from Houston to Orlando, wearing adult diapers to avoid a bathroom stop, to confront Shipman after she learned she was seeing Oefelein.

Nowak disguised herself in a wig and trench coat and allegedly followed Shipman to her parked car at Orlando airport. She carried a bag that contained a BB gun, knife and a rubber hose, police said.

According to Shipman, Nowak accosted her as she got into her car, tried to open the door and sprayed pepper spray through the partially open window.

Nowak was first charged with attempted murder, but that charge was reduced to attempted kidnapping last week. She has pleaded not guilty to that and other charges, including burglary and battery with a weapon.