NASA To Review Astronaut Screening Process

Space Agency Will Evaluate Its Psychological Screening Following Love Triangle Arrest

(CBS/AP)  NASA said Wednesday it would review its psychological screening process after an astronaut's arrest on charges she tried to murder a woman she believed was her romantic rival for a space shuttle pilot's affections.

The space agency will review the selection process for astronauts and the amount of screening they get after they are chosen, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. Currently, there is no annual psychological review.

Hiding her face from the media, Lisa Nowak returned to Texas and the Johnson Space Center for a medical assessment Wednesday, a day after being charged in Florida with attempted first-degree murder, attempted kidnapping and three other crimes.

Nowak had shown no signs of instability before her arrest, said Deputy NASA Administrator Shana Dale. "As you know, it's a very tight-knit community that cared about each other."

Police said Nowak, accustomed to wearing astronaut diapers during the space shuttle's launch and return, wore them on a 900-mile drive from Houston to Florida so she would not have to make bathroom stops as she raced to confront Colleen Shipman at the Orlando International Airport. A police affidavit said Nowak, in a wig and trench coat, had "stealthily followed the victim while in disguise and possessed multiple deadly weapons," including a knife and steel mallet.

She was released on bail but ordered to stay away from Shipman and wear a monitoring device.

Nowak underwent a medical assessment Wednesday at the Johnson Space Center, said NASA spokeswoman Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters, who would not say whether that included a psychological evaluation. "She's not staying here. She's leaving with her family," Cloutier-Lemasters said.

NASA officials declined to comment when asked if Nowak's arrest meant the end of her NASA career. Nowak will be replaced as a ground communicator for the next space shuttle mission, where she would have talked to the astronauts from Houston during their flight.

Dale said Nowak's arrest would not have a long-term impact on the space program.

"This is a tragic event that impacted many lives, but this is a unique situation that we're facing," Dale said.

It was a remarkable downfall for a woman whose life seemed to be on a perfect trajectory until a few months ago. Just weeks ago, Nowak and her husband separated after 19 years.

Nowak became an astronaut after winning a series of Navy service awards. She had flown on the shuttle Discovery, and was a mother of three children. She said in a September interview with Ladies Home Journal magazine that her husband, Richard, "works in Mission Control, so he's part of the whole space business, too. And supportive also."

"I interviewed her before her flight last summer and I remember walking away from that thinking she's like every other first-time flier: extremely, excited about the flight," CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood said on CBS' The Early Show.

"When I heard that name and heard what was going on, I was as shocked as everyone else," Harwood said of Nowak.

But there were signs that not everything was right in her life.

In a NASA interview last year, before her mission aboard Discovery, she spoke about the strain her career placed on her family. She has twin 5-year-old girls and a teenage son.

"It's a sacrifice for our own personal time and our families and the people around us," she said. "But I do think it's worth it, because if you don't explore and take risks and go do all these things, then everything will stay the same."

[exusmcsgt]

As opposed to going into space, this looney tunes broad will now be watched from space.

As someone stated yesterday, "Jail: The Final Frontier".

[jonathan0987]

hi

[enriquemexic]

yo guys

[enriquemexic]

I love this site!

[lieberman18]

ex-lax,

how nice that you condemn a fellow military officer.

Not that I agree with her, but aren't you one of the dodos who want Hillary for Prez.

Same situation there, except that the cuckolded shrill shrew of your DRAFT DODGING PERVERT hero hasn't flipped yet. Let's hope that your neo-fascist bozo buddies come to their senses and choose not to elect the fat bird - unless you want another Lisa Nowak on our hands - and on top of the nuclear button.

Here's a benchmark for Hillary - Jan. 2008 - before the primaries - effective separation and divorce proceedings from Perv Bill. Or act like Lorena Bobbitt.

OTHERWISE, GO BAKE TO BAKING COOKIES, SHREW.

As for Lisa, on one hand she's laughable - on the other, after such a career and raising a family she is to be pitied.

[alihralabad]

WooooooHoooooooooooo w0000000t LMAOLMAOLMAOLMAO

[alihralabad]

as someone stated before THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS NOT TO MESS WITH YOUR F BUDDY

[alihralabad]

CURRENT EVENTS CLASS FTW!

[bluestardad]

Runaway Bride and her need to hook up and write a book on relationships!

[jetlizhan]

She's a pitifully confused 'out there' individual and I do feel sorry for her - but she's still very dangerous and I believe she would have seriously hurt Shipman. Can't believe she's out on bond. I thought I heard on some news program on TV yesterday morning that she was still very distraught over the deaths of the last astronaut crew that died - three of them were her very close friends. Did anyone else hear this???

[lpcgraham06]

Hello

[fyrecat]

This poor woman...and a good example of how women are 'conditioned' to consider other women the 'competition' and how even if you are a 'successful' 'high functioning' woman you can become obsessed.
Sadly, this isn't something thats so uncommon, it's just that she's an astronaut, and as such, supposed to be 'above reproach' that draws this sort of attention.
I hope she gets a good therapist, and learns that her value isn't based on a man, no matter who he is.
Fyre

[ghggg]

Of course she's out on bond. If you're white and female, you're blameless in EVERYTHING. The idiot, emasculated, white male dominated news media will do everything in their power to somehow portray her as a 'victim' of the man she was stalking and say that it was HIS fault. The book will be in stores and the movie will be on lifetime any moment now. Attempted murder charge and she's OUT ON BAIL! Nothing about the double-standards in this country surprises me anymore.

[lambofgoth]

Look! A P-ing contest! The boys are beating their chests! Me Tarzan, you Jane!
But don't forget girls... you can't spell manipulate without the word MAN!

[ghggg]

But don't forget girls... you can't spell manipulate without the word MAN!


And you certainly can't have 'woes' without WOMEN!

[santo_marco]

She must have been a Navy nurse...

[prontopronto]

Fyrecat - your comments are sane and understandable and a relief from the upsurge of sexist female bashing that's begining to form in these remarks. All in all a woman to be pitied, but also a woman who falls victim to the huge cultural hoax that without a man - one is in danger. It's sad that no matter how ill-treated, it is going to be she who takes the hit. The mute silence from both the man in question, Nowak's (separated) husband and Colleen Shipman, about what's been going on speaks to either their media saavy or their culpability. Maybe what they did is not illegal, but the morality of messing someone up is always the larger question. It's too bad that this woman didn't just start accepting the truth, that sometimes you get hurt and abused, and try to minimize the impact on her own life.
She does need therapy - but so does this entire culture that endorses male superiority and dominance and male behaviors. All speculation, but women have been sucking this false cultural "norm" up for centuries. When will they learn to 1) be okay without endorsement from a man and 2) to not shaft each other for the affections of a man.
All in all a tragedy that feels rooted in sexism, rather than in passion.

[actornaught]

Even successful people (nevermind this male/female 'debate') can be mentally ill. There can be a large gray area between being driven and being obsessed. Otherwise, how can you think having a billion dollars isn't enough? Or ten million, what's 'enough'?

[ghggg]

The mute silence from both the man in question, Nowak's (separated) husband and Colleen Shipman, about what's been going on speaks to either their media saavy or their culpability.



This comment proves my point PERFECTLY! They will try to blame the MAN for this CRAZY WOMEN'S actions!! This thinking is OUTRAGEOUS! This man was NOT in a relationship with this LUNATIC so what the hell does his 'silence' have to do with culpability? She is a dangerous LUNATIC and you can't blame her actions on ANYONE but her!

[dogsoul]

Unbelievable... SHE was obviously cheating on her husband & children, SHE laid an elaborate plan to stalk & harm her victim, SHE assaulted her victim, & quite probably intended to do even more harm... and yet your own sexist belief system somehow is able to blame her husband, the object of her affection, and men in general for her behavior... Must be nice to exist in a world where nothing's your fault - and you can just blame men for your own despicable behavior... pathetic

[cathaleen]

Something tipped her over the edge. Either it was a long time brewing or someone had to know that she was about to loon out. Didn't anyone pay attention to her - everyone is shocked. I wish someone would just say, yeah she has been acting strange lately.

[dogsoul]

...and what's more - if some women actually DO objectify men to the point where men are merely an accessory used to feel comfortable about how they are... how is that men's fault? It's FEMALE culture that pushes the idea that you need a man in your life to BE somebody - but of course, men are responsible for everything negative about female culture - and deserve no credit for anything positive... Gimme a break with your sexist bigotry.

[dogsoul]

...I think what tipped her over the edge was that her emotional and/or physical affair with another man finally destroyed her family - she & her husband separated just a couple weeks before. Of course, despite this affair - I'm guessing some people will just assume her husband was to blame... that he must have been abusive, must have neglected her, must have been cheating himself etc... typical misandry.... anyway - she's then faced with the reality that she's lost her family, and is losing her "true love" to a younger woman - she's about to get left holding the bag - she took a big gamble & was about to lose big time... So what does she do??? Well, just read the police report.

[ksrugger]

I don't think she was cheating...physically. She has said they were more than co-workers, but not romantic. Maybe that had a one night fling or she just fell for him and then once she and her husband parted ways (possibly because of the work hours, possibly because she had a crush on this other man) then she felt like she could finally be with him, whether he had the same feelings or not. We just don't know.

[dogsoul]

...I agree with the comment that very successful people often share common traits with people otherwise considered compulsive, obsessive... even half crazy. Let's face it - to reach those heights - one really does have to possess a good measure of drive & dedication, and that often borders on obsessive compulsion... you also have to be willing to take big risks; heck - I'd call blasting off into space pretty risky wouldn't you? Combine that with what I can only imagine is a general approach to life of methodical planning, detail orientation, and a will to achieve one's goal - personal or otherwise... and it's not too too shocking to see how Lisa & a lot of other people seemingly "on top" find themselves on the other side of the law or even basic morality...

[ghggg]

Dogsoul, we are in TOTAL agreement. This is what the SEXIEST feminist movement in this country have done to the minds of women. They are perpetual victims in everything they do. The man that this woman stalked was NOT in a relationship with her, but yet the women who posted here insists on finding some way to hold him responsible for this lunatics actions.

[ksrugger]

jagarundi, I'm a woman and I was on here yesterday and today agreeing that SHE is to blame. Don't assume it's just women on here feeling sorry for her either. Just don't make lump assumptions.

[lpcgraham06]

hello i am back online

[dogsoul]

...therapists that deal with infidelity are virtually unamimous in their stance that emotional infidelity is every bit as damaging as physical infidelity - and most say it's much moreso...

So while I doubt she's never been physically intimate with the other guy - IMO, it wouldn't really mitigate the associated damages.

What's more... it's almost impossible that her love for another man would not adversely affect her marriage - which, let's face it... after 19 years together - would probably compare rather mundanely to a new exciting love with some hunky astronaut - of course, when the fantasy fog finally started clearing away - I think Lisa realized that she had destroyed her marriage for a phantom - and that kind of failure would not be accepted without a fight...

[puffin1952]

I think the thing that tipped her over the edge was all the Tang astronauts drink. Maybe she thought she was drinking Pootang. Just a theory.

[uyen2007]

This story proves once again, that education and social status means nothing when the person is not well formed as a human being!!
Come to think of it, her action is quite a disgrace to her fellow astronauts!!! RIDICULOUS!!

[uyen2007]

This story proves once again, that education and social status means nothing when the person is not well formed as a human being!!
Come to think of it, her action is quite a disgrace to her fellow astronauts!!! RIDICULOUS!!

[stevenga777]

So if a man stalks and beats a woman nearly to death and terorizes her it's just minor harrassment but if a woman who happens to be an astronaut stalks and does something crazy it is attempted murder. Everyone has problems...I say let her go with NASA supervising her psychological treatment.

[lpcgraham06]

???????????????????????????????????

[stevenga777]

So if a man stalks and beats a woman nearly to death and terorizes her it's just minor harrassment but if a woman who happens to be an astronaut stalks and does something crazy it is attempted murder. Everyone has problems...I say let her go with NASA supervising her psychological treatment.

[lpcgraham06]

stevenga777 hello??

[lpcgraham06]

how r u

[lpcgraham06]

i am good

[carlylaine]

PUFFIN 1952

You are a waste.

[dogsoul]

I WILL say that I think the 1st Degree Murder Rap in addition to the stacking up of charges is kind of bogus - not that I don't suspect she may well have had homicide on her mind, or that this wasn't obviously premediated... but in terms of provable crime, all the prosecution really has - all she actually ended up doing - was assault. I've often found it questionable how prosecutors will attempt to make SOMEthing stick by aiming much higher on the charges & cumulatively stacking up as many ancillory charges as possible for essentially the same crime... It's also a good way to intimidate the defendant into copping a plea - plus, the jury sees some huge crime & 50 more charges... they're simply more likely to allow SOME of them to stick...

After this is all said & done - I'd like to see her rung up on assault & see at least a year in actual jail time... the other charges, while probable in the court of public opinion, don't seem proveable in a court of law... Beyond that, her career is done - reputation ruined - both relationships gone... she'll pay for this crime - unfortunately, so will a lot of other people who didn't have any choice in the matter.

[lpcgraham06]

You are a waste.

[lpcgraham06]

dogsoul uyen2007 CarlyLaine are all a waste

[dogsoul]

"So if a man stalks and beats a woman nearly to death and terorizes her it's just minor harrassment but if a woman who happens to be an astronaut stalks and does something crazy it is attempted murder. Everyone has problems...I say let her go with NASA supervising her psychological treatment. "

Um, huh? Errr, uh what?? No, if a man stalks & beats a woman nearly to death & terrorizes her - it's called stalking & major assault - and he'll end up in prison if it can be proven. If a woman stalks & pepper sprays another woman with an assortment of highly suspicious items that she tried to dump which suggest the intention of kidnapping and/or murder - she may be charged as such, but will probably only get convicted on assault... although you seem to want to just let her go under the supervision of.... uh... NASA because "everyone has problems". If anyone's suggesting that we treat this case with gender bias, it's you.

[bildooreilly]

She got out on an attempted murder charge for only $1,500, you only have to pay 10% of what bond is set at to get out of jail. I've seen people on not even very serious drug charges have their bail set at half a million dollars around here... Sure pays to be in the governments little gang, no wonder none of them feel they have to be accountable for their actions like the rest of us.

[lpcgraham06]

i am back who wants to talk $#!+

[lpcgraham06]

dogsoul ????????????????????

[lpcgraham06]

bildooreilly ????????????????????

[gangesdak]

I noticed that Ms Nowak in stead of driving back was catching a plane back to Houston. Now she will have grounds for legal assault against the diaper manufacturer.

[bluestardad]

Run away bride and Diaper Girl should write a book on relationships!

[lpcgraham06]

bluestardad ????????????????