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Court bails kidnap plot astronaut Astronaut in murder plot charge
(20 minutes later)
A US astronaut charged with trying to kidnap a woman she believed competition for the affection of a shuttle pilot has been bailed by a Florida court. A US astronaut accused of attacking a woman she considered competition for the affection of a shuttle pilot has been charged with attempted murder.
Navy Capt Lisa Nowak, 43, was ordered to pay a $15,500 bail bond and wear a satellite-tracking device. Earlier a Florida court had ordered that Navy Capt Lisa Nowak, 43, who was facing charges of attempted kidnapping and battery, could be freed on bail.
She has been charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and other crimes after driving from her home in Texas to Florida to confront Colleen Shipman. However, the introduction of the more serious charge that she intended to murder Colleen Shipman reverses that.
A mother of three, Capt Nowak flew on the space shuttle Discovery last July.A mother of three, Capt Nowak flew on the space shuttle Discovery last July.
Capt Nowak appeared before Orange County Circuit Judge Mike Murphy via a video link from Orange County jail.
She was dressed in a dark blue prison uniform and shackled at the waist.
For the majority of the hearing she stood still, with her head bowed, only speaking to answer "yes" when Judge Murphy asked her if she understood the conditions of her release, which is expected to happen later on Tuesday.
Capt Nowak and Cmdr William Oefelein trained togetherAstronaut Steve Lindsey, the commander of Capt Nowak's mission to the International Space Station last July, also attended the hearing and vouched for the fact that she would obey the terms of her release.
He was joined by fellow astronaut Chris Ferguson, the pilot from the mission, who later said he was "perplexed" by Capt Nowak's recent behaviour.
Capt Nowak was also ordered not to make any attempts to contact her alleged victim Ms Shipman, who according to local media reports works as an engineer at Patrick Air Force Base, near the Kennedy Space Center.
Airport interception
The man at the centre of the love triangle was said to be Navy Cmdr William Oefelein, who was a pilot on the Discovery's mission to the space station in December.The man at the centre of the love triangle was said to be Navy Cmdr William Oefelein, who was a pilot on the Discovery's mission to the space station in December.
Though he and Capt Nowak never flew on the same mission, they did train together. Capt Nowak and Cmdr William Oefelein trained togetherThough he and Capt Nowak never flew on the same mission, they did train together.
According to her written police statement, Capt Nowak described her attachment to Cmdr Oefelein as "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship".According to her written police statement, Capt Nowak described her attachment to Cmdr Oefelein as "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship".
Capt Nowak is understood to have thought that Ms Shipman was romantically involved with Cmdr Oefelein.Capt Nowak is understood to have thought that Ms Shipman was romantically involved with Cmdr Oefelein.
Capt Nowak flew on space shuttle Discovery in July last yearSo, when she heard that her rival was due to fly from Texas to Florida, she decided to drive the 1,000 miles (1,600km) from her home in Houston to Orlando International Airport to intercept and confront her. So, when she heard that her rival was due to fly from Texas to Florida, she decided to drive the 1,000 miles (1,600km) from her home in Houston to Orlando International Airport to intercept and confront her.
To avoid toilet breaks during the long drive Capt Nowak wore an adult nappy - such as astronauts wear during shuttle launches and landings - and she disguised herself with a wig, dark glasses and a trench coat. Capt Nowak told police she had not wanted to harm Ms Shipman, just wanting to scare her rival into talking about her relationship with Cmdr Oefelein.
Once at the airport she waited for Ms Shipman to arrive and then followed her onto an airport shuttle bus which dropped Ms Shipman at her car. Pepper spray
'Pepper spray attack' To avoid toilet breaks during the long drive to Orlando Capt Nowak wore an adult nappy - such as astronauts wear during shuttle launches and landings - and she disguised herself with a wig, dark glasses and a trench coat.
Capt Nowak flew on space shuttle Discovery in July last yearOnce at the airport she waited for Ms Shipman to arrive and then followed her onto an airport shuttle bus which dropped Ms Shipman at her car.
According to the police affidavit, Ms Shipman says she became aware that someone was following her and so hurried into the vehicle and locked the doors.According to the police affidavit, Ms Shipman says she became aware that someone was following her and so hurried into the vehicle and locked the doors.
Capt Nowak reportedly banged on the car window and asked for a lift, and then to use Ms Shipman's mobile phone.Capt Nowak reportedly banged on the car window and asked for a lift, and then to use Ms Shipman's mobile phone.
Ms Shipman refused, but rolled down the window when Capt Nowak began to cry.Ms Shipman refused, but rolled down the window when Capt Nowak began to cry.
Ms Shipman was then attacked with pepper spray, the statement says. She managed to drive to a car park booth and police were called.Ms Shipman was then attacked with pepper spray, the statement says. She managed to drive to a car park booth and police were called.
An officer followed Capt Nowak and she was stopped allegedly carrying the wig, an air rifle, a steel mallet, rubber tubing, dustbin bags, black gloves and a knife.An officer followed Capt Nowak and she was stopped allegedly carrying the wig, an air rifle, a steel mallet, rubber tubing, dustbin bags, black gloves and a knife.
A search of her vehicle revealed pepper spray and e-mails between Ms Shipman and Cmdr Oefelein, police said. A search of her vehicle revealed pepper spray and e-mails between Ms Shipman and Cmdr Oefelein, as well as Ms Shipman's home address and hand written directions to the house, police said.
Capt Nowak told police she had not wanted to harm Ms Shipman, just wanting to scare her rival into talking about her relationship with Cmdr Oefelein.
Attempted kidnapping carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.