NASA astronaut released from jail
(AP)Updated: 2007-02-07 17:15
Nowak and Oefelein (OH'-fuh-line), who both live in the Houston area, had trained together as astronauts, but never flew into space together. Shipman works at Patrick Air Force Base near Kennedy Space Center. Details of Oefelein's relationships with the women were unclear.
Earlier, Nowak was quoted by police as saying she and Oefelein had something "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship."
Neither Oefelein nor Shipman could be reached for comment Tuesday.
Nowak's two-story brick house remained unlit and empty Tuesday night. Mail and papers covered the dining room table. A pair of children's white roller skates with pink wheels sat at the bottom of the stairs, toys were strewn nearby. Her husband could not be located.
"Personally, Lisa is an extremely caring and dedicated mother to her three children," said a statement from Nowak's family. "Considering both her personal and professional life, these alleged events are completely out of character and have come as a tremendous shock to our family."
Police found a letter in Nowak's car that "indicated how much Mrs. Nowak loved Mr. Oefelein," an arrest affidavit said. And Nowak had copies of e-mails between Shipman and Oefelein.
Oefelein, a 41-year-old Navy commander, piloted a Discovery mission in December to the space station where astronauts rewired the outpost, installed a new $11 million section and dropped off a new American crew member.
Oefelein is unmarried but has two children. He began his aviation career as a teenager, flying floatplanes in Alaska.
Shipman, 30, is an engineer assigned to the 45th Launch Support Squadron, and a Federal Aviation Administration pilot directory indicates she is certified as a student pilot.
Nowak, accustomed to wearing astronaut diapers during the space shuttle's launch and return to Earth, wore them on the drive from Houston so she would not have to make bathroom stops as she raced to confront Shipman at the Orlando International Airport, police said.
Then, according to police, Nowak donned a wig and trench coat, boarded an airport shuttle bus with Shipman and followed her to her car. Crying, Nowak sprayed a chemical into the car.
Shipman drove to a parking lot booth and sought help.
A police affidavit made public Tuesday said Nowak had "stealthily followed the victim while in disguise and possessed multiple deadly weapons."
The affidavit said the circumstances of the case "create a well-founded fear" and gave investigators "probable cause to believe that Mrs. Nowak intended to murder Ms. Shipman."
Lykkebak said that Nowak only wanted to talk to Shipman. Asked about the weapons, he said, "You can sit and speculate all day."
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