NASA Astronaut Arrested in Love Triangle

Feb 06, 08:01 AM

Current Headlines: A female NASA astronaut was in jail in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, facing charges of allegedly attacking a rival in a relationship with another astronaut.

Navy Capt. Lisa Marie Nowak, 43, was arrested Monday at Orlando International Airport and charged with battery, attempted kidnapping, attempted burglary to a vehicle and destruction of evidence, Florida Today reported.

The police report said Nowak had driven from Houston to Orlando to confront Colleen Shipman about a relationship with astronaut Bill Oefelein, a Navy commander.

After Shipman's flight landed and she headed for her car, Nowak reportedly followed her and began banging on her car window, police said. When Shipman opened the window, she told police Nowak sprayed pepper spray into the car and Shipman sped away.

Police retrieved a black bag they saw Nowak throw in a garbage bin and retrieved a wig, a trench coat, a BB pistol, a steel mallet, a folding knife with a 4-inch blade, three to four feet of rubber tubing, several plastic garbage bags and about $600 in cash, the report said.

Nowak also said she had worn diapers during the 950-mile drive so she wouldn't have to stop.

She flew in last July's shuttle Discovery mission.