It was a story that launched a thousand headlines and cemented its place in the annals of American tabloid history. In February 2007, Lisa Nowak, a decorated U.S. astronaut, embarked on an earthbound mission unlike any other in the history of the space program. Her objective was clear: confront Colleen Shipman, a U.S. Air Force engineer and the new love interest of Nowak’s former lover. What made this narrative so irresistible to the public and media alike was not just the tangled web of romance between the stars but the bizarre details of Nowak’s journey, including the infamous report that she wore diapers to avoid bathroom breaks during her 900-mile drive from Houston to Orlando.
Nowak, a mother of three and a respected figure at NASA. Her drive and dedication were beyond reproach. She’d earned a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering, and passed NASA’s rigorous psychological tests to become an astronaut in 1996. But behind the scenes, Nowak’s personal life was fraying. After beginning an affair with Oefelein in 2004 and separating from her husband early in 2007, the unraveling of her romantic relationship with Oefelein set her on a collision course with destiny.
Nowak’s meticulous planning of her journey is the stuff of spy novels. She donned a wig, a trench coat, and armed herself with an array of items: a steel mallet, a knife, a BB gun, latex gloves, and of course, pepper spray—the only weapon she would ultimately wield against Shipman.
The confrontation at the airport parking lot led to Nowak’s arrest and charges of attempted kidnapping and burglary. NASA swiftly terminated her assignment, and her illustrious career came crashing down as the first active-duty astronaut to face felony charges. The legal aftermath saw her plead guilty to burglary and misdemeanor battery, with a sentence of probation.
The sordid affair did not just end Nowak’s NASA career but also led to changes within the organization, including the institution of annual psychological screenings for astronauts. It would also inspire the 2019 movie ‘Lucy in the Sky,’ offering a dramatized glimpse into the life of an astronaut struggling with the earthly confines of human emotion.
Relevant articles:
– TIL about Lisa Nowak: an astronaut mother of 3, who drove 900 miles in adult diapers to kidnap the other woman in a bizarre space love triangle.