Lisa Nowak, the so-called lovelorn astronaut who drove cross-country in an attempt to attack her rival pleaded guilty Tuesday to burglary and battery. She received a light sentence, however; only a year's worth of probation and no additional jail time. Nowak had originally been charged with a second felony: attempted kidnapping.
The story was a strange one. In fact, it was so strange that she initially tried an insanity defense. She withdrew that plea in May of this year.
Lisa Nowak flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery during mission STS-121 in July 2006. Although married, she became involved in an affair with fellow astronaut William Oefelein, immediately after his divorce.
Their affair lasted two years, but Oefelein began to break it off gradually near the end of 2006. Meanwhile he began a relationship with Colleen Shipman, who was working as an engineer with the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.
Realizing she had a rival, Nowak drove from Houston, TX to Orlando, FL between February 4th and 5th, 2007. She had packed an assortment of equipment, including a black wig, a BB pistol, latex gloves, pepper spray, a hooded tan trench coat, a 2-pound drilling hammer, black gloves, rubber tubing, plastic garbage bags, somewhat over $500 in cash, her computer, an 8-inch (20 cm) Gerber folding knife and several other items.
While early reports indicated Lisa Nowak wore diapers during the trip to avoid stopping, this was later denied by Nowak. On February 5th, 2007, Nowak went to Orlando International Airport and confronted Colleen Shipman, who had just arrived from Houston.
She then attacked Shipman with pepper spray. However, Shipman was able to drive away. Police arrested Nowak a short time later. Naturally, Nowak's assignment to the space agency as an astronaut was terminated by NASA, effective March 8, 2007.
In addition to the probation and two days in jail, time served, Nowak was ordered to take an 8-hour anger management class and complete 50 hours of community service. The judge also ordered Nowak to stay away from both Shipman and Oefelein.
At the end of the proceedings, Nowak was ordered by the judge to face Shipman. At that time, she apologized to Shipman.
However, Shipman later stated to reporters that Nowak's demeanor was all a facade. She reportedly has high blodd pressure and migraines, and perhaps a touch of PTSD as well.
Nowak still has the rank of Captain, although she no longer works for NASA. Although she is separated from her husband, Richard, who works for a NASA contractor, they are apparently still legally married. They have three children, a teenage son and twin girls.
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