Transcript
NASA Astronaut Arrested for Kidnap Attempt
Charged With Attempted First Degree Murder
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Tuesday, February 6, 2007; 2:00 PM
Navy Capt. Lisa M. Nowak, a NASA astronaut and Washington-area native, was
Orlando police allege that Nowak, 43, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Rockville's C. W. Woodward High School, drove across country from her home in Houston to confront Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman about her relationship with another NASA astronaut, Navy Commander William A. Oefelein.
Michael Cabbage, space editor for the Orlando Sentinel who covers developments at the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando and Johnson Space Center in Houston and also writes a
A transcript follows.
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Washington, D.C.: Are astronauts necessarily members of the armed services, and could they be tried through the military justice system?
Michael Cabbage: Astronauts used to be almost exclusively military pilots. Today many aren't. In this case, however, Nowak is a Navy captain. She could be tried in a military court as well as a civil court.
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Washington, D.C.: Since the military personnel assigned to the corps are all officers, there are no rules against fraternizing with each other, right?
Michael Cabbage: My understanding is that they are allowed to fraternize unless one or both parties are married and they are engaged in an inappropriate relationship.
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Bethesda, Md.: A story today mentioned that NASA has no rules against fraternization, but aren't these parties still in the military? Could we see some "behavior unbecoming an officer" charges?
Michael Cabbage: That is a possibility.
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Fairfax, Va.: What specifically are the charges now against her?
Michael Cabbage: The most serious of the charges is first degree attempted murder. She also has been charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and attempted vehicle burglary with battery.
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Washington, D.C.: What is the next thing to happen in this story? How much information is NASA letting out?
Michael Cabbage: The next step will be to see whether Nowak is released on bond and what her status with NASA will be. NASA, so far, has been reluctant to publicly discuss what it is calling a "private legal matter."
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Bethesda, Md.: Was there any talk in today's proceedings involving her mental state/health? Surely her lawyer will raise that issue if he hasn't already.
Michael Cabbage: I was not in the courtroom this morning but I am not aware of any mental issues being raised so far.
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Arlington, Va.: Remind me again of some of the tests and qualifications that all astronauts must possess, if you could, Mike. I find this to be the most fascinating aspect of this story: the top percentile of all achievers can still be felled by jealousy and heartache and worse.
Michael Cabbage: I think one thing that strikes everybody about this story is that an accomplished astronaut and Navy captain could be subjected to the sort of emotional forces you refer to. Tests and qualifications for the astronaut corps are rigorous as they always have been. Many astronauts still are former military officers and test pilots. Others are accomplished scientists. They truly are the best and the brightest.
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Washington, D.C.: It's early to speculate on this but I am guessing NASA is not only profoundly embarrassed by this incident but worried about the political fallout and budget implications. If this story has legs -- turns up on monologues on the late night talk shows and skits on SNL -- how much damage can it do?
Michael Cabbage: I agree that NASA is embarrassed by this story. However, I don't see any long term budget fallout as a result of one individual's alleged misdeeds.
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Washington, D.C.: Was there any indication that Ms. Nowak was troubled? Apparently, she and the man weren't even having a romantic relationship. It's scary to think someone so unstable was so recently on the space shuttle!
Michael Cabbage: I know of no one who says they had an inkling that Mrs. Nowak was "troubled" or capable of something like what she is charged with.
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Chicago, Ill.: Has there been any reaction or statement by the male third of this triangle?
Michael Cabbage: None that I'm aware of.
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Washington, D.C.: How has Nowak been regarded by her peers and superiors at NASA?
Michael Cabbage: As far as I know, her reputation among her peers and superiors has been good until now.
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Washington, D.C.: I heard Nowak was to return to the shuttle in March. Is this now on hold?
Michael Cabbage: Nowak was not scheduled to fly on the Shuttle in March. She was, however, planning to be a "capcom," for the next flight. A capcom is an astronaut at Mission Control in Houston who talks to the crew in orbit. I would be very surprised if she is still the capcom for the next mission.
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Washington, D.C.: Have the astronauts ever flown in space together?
Michael Cabbage: No, they have trained together but they never flew on the same shuttle flight together. Both have flown in space only once.
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Arlington, Va.: Is there any reaction from fellow astronauts?
Michael Cabbage: I'm not aware of any of Nowak's colleagues in the astronaut corps speaking publicly about her situation.
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Washington, D.C.: Can you shed any more light on the diapers?
Michael Cabbage: Astronauts typically wear diapers during launches and space walks.
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washingtonpostcom: This concludes our discussion with Michael Cabbage.
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