NASA Love Triangle

[pdh3]

I feel bad for Colleen Shipman. Her private life has been exposed to the world because of this mess. I'm sure she must be profoundly hurt and embarassed by the whole thing, and none of it was really her fault. She seemed to love the guy. How could she go on with him after all this anyway? I wouldn't think they have a future together now, even if they did plan one before.
We should all take a lesson from it though, and not put anything too intimate in an email. You just never know what will come back to haunt you.

[nonesuche]

pdh3- you and I so often agree but on this point with Shipman, I have to disagree. She must have been living under a rock in recent years not to know that fraternization of this type, sending emails to him in space while he was 'on the job' was a huge risk to her. He was receiving and reading those while on NASA equipment also?

She's not real bright then, astronauts are reliant upon much IT hard and software with the shuttle. Even emails you read at your personal address while on company time and company hardware, is fair game. She was very foolish.

[Bobo2]

pdh3- you and I so often agree but on this point with Shipman, I have to disagree. She must have been living under a rock in recent years not to know that fraternization of this type, sending emails to him in space while he was 'on the job' was a huge risk to her. He was receiving and reading those while on NASA equipment also?

I agree with you none, but you said it better than I could.  She deserves the same fraternization reprimand Oefelein gets.   And I do hope he gets one.

[Jacqueline]

I think the only people in this situation I feel sorry for are the families, especially the children of Lisa.

As for the other 3.  They were all adults.

All three made bad choices but only one went over the edge, and over the edge big time.

The way I see it they all pretty much suck.

[sb]

The new info about Oefelein is very disturbing. Tax dollars at work, we send him into space so he can get e-mails from his mistress. How STUPID both parties are, notwithstanding what Nowak did. Yes indeed the content of her messages to him are part of NASA's record and that will never go away. They may deep-six them as a PR move, but they still happened. BTW, NASA SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT WAS GOING ON and put the kibosh on all the foolishness.

Talk about being fooled by appearances. I watched the coverage of that mission and Nowak came across to me as an impressive, articulate, attractive gal. How she could go so wrong so quickly is unreal.

[pdh3]

I do agree that it was stupid to send emails that were so personal, but the astronauts are allowed to communicate with family and loved ones while in space via email. She never thought anything like this would happen, I'm sure. Ms. Shipman seems to have been really in love with her astronaut, and I don't see that she deserves to be embarassed. She is not married, and neither was Mr. Olefelein when she started seeing him. I don't really get the hostility towards her at all. Lisa Nowak was a married mother of 3 when she got involved with another man, and Mr. Astronaut was also married, and a father. Those two are really the the culprits of the whole mess. They have hurt so many innocent people.
I live in a NASA town, and I can tell you that all kinds of stuff like adultery goes on all the time, and has since the beginning of the space program. The people working in the space industry have a 60% divorce rate. The original astronauts were not faithful to their wives for the most part, and nothing has changed much. The space program demands 60-80 hour work weeks at times, and people get very close to one another at work, and become strangers at home. I personally experienced that in my life, and so have most of my friends. All of us have ex-husbands who were or still are working in the space program in one capacity or another. I'd be willing to bet there are many other astronauts that have done the same thing. NASA turns a blind eye, and always has. They could care less about the emails, except that now they have been made public, and are an embarassment. I've seen many, many emails a lot worse than that one going across the NASA email network with my own eyes, and pictures too.
It's just the culture of NASA, and the type of people it attracts. Brilliant, hard-working, but not always the best at personal relationships.

[Jacqueline]

PDH3, thanks so much for your latest post.

Very informative and really paints a clearer picture to those of us who are not privy to the thing you are by growing up in the Nasa surroundings.

The way you have described the nasa community seems very similar to some people who are in law enforcement.  Divorce rate is very high for people in those fields as well.

As for Shipman, I just hope she cuts her ties with this guy.

I am sure he did not think that Nowack would go bonkers over this situation but in a sense he put Shipman's life in danger by being a player.

[sb]

One would think that NASA would be more PR-conscious than to let the stuff go on. They should have realized that that "culture" is an accident waiting to happen. It's kind of surprising that something like this hasn't happened before.

I was aware that NASA marriages are a very-endangered species.  Most of the more famous astronauts had divorces. Neil Armstrong himself is divorced, so both of the first 2 men to walk on the moon had their marriages break up.

I have been told that this is endemic in the military also. So actually, all 3 principals in this case being military, it's pretty much in the numbers that something like this happened.

[nonesuche]

I wanted to post the latest update on this, I suspect it won't get high profile exposure either but Olefin did lose his job and I still maintain he should have.

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/man-in-love-triangle-to-leave-nasa/20070525190909990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Rick and I both worked in consulting pdh3, that means you travel a great deal and he was away the majority of the last two years? Does that justify illicit liasons? not in my opinion, we all have choices we make and consulting is high pressure and draining too, which is why it pays so well?

Olefin played both ends against the middle, look at the fall-out? In this day and age even NASA needs to monitor emails and have governance policies regarding them. If not, they aren't meeting the standards of internet governance and I for one am not going to agree that's AOK.

[pdh3]

none - With all due respect....I never said I agreed with the NASA policy of turning a blind eye to the personal lives of their employees, and I was not justifying it at all. How did you ever get that impression? I just wanted to explain the culture that exists in the world of those involved in the astronaut scandal. An explanation is not an endorsement.
In fact, I begged my husband to change the focus of his career as an engineer, and I wanted to move away from this town due to the casual attitiudes about marriage and family that exists here. I was scared when I realized the way his profession affected families. We have the highest divorce rate in the state in my county, and it is because of the type of people who work in the space, technical, and engineering fields. Of course, there are exceptions, and some people manage to stay married, but most don't. We've even had a local TV station due a special report on the fact that marriages in this area are crumbling at a high rate...now almost 70%. It's like a contagious disease, in a way, because it is condoned in the professional community, and there are no career consequences unless you go as far as Lisa Nowak did.
Technical people, for the most part look at things much differently than others, and I think NASA just sees the divorce rate as collateral damage. In order to have the best people working as NASA employees, or as contractors, it's just part of doing business. This is just the first time that someone crossed a line publically. I have heard of many ugly things happening, and I know of several cases of domestic abuse involving NASA employees. They have never been all that well behaved, except for John Glenn, who was the most decent of all the orginal astronauts. He was always loyal to his wife, and was very protective of her.
I personally know of people having affairs at the work place, including my husband, who did testing for NASA as a contractor. Many of his co-workers had affairs as well, while actually on a government facility, during the work day. One woman even got pregnant, and tried to pass the baby off as her husband's child. I have little respect for most NASA employees as people, even though I have great respect for the work that they do, and for their brilliance as scientists and engineers.
I'm the last person who would think it's ok to behave this way, but NASA has simply looked the other way for over 40 years, so I don't expect it to change, even with this shameful incident.

[nonesuche]

pdh3-

I am so sorry this happened to you, I lived through infidelity in a very public way in my first marriage, it's a hideous experience. I have never understood why a spouse couldn't just state they wanted 'out' of a marriage first, I surely wouldn't wish to be with someone who doesn't wish to be with me. It's the height of self-indulgence to be unfaithful in the modern world IMO.

I really have to wonder what's going on with our government when NASA allows this to continue unabated? Who is agreeing to look the other way above NASA? Of course with Clinton's sexual escapades as our president one can imagine it's not a top priority for our government.

Thank you for sharing and for explaining, again I am so sorry this happened to you.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6523966.html
Nowak's romantic rival and her ex-love will wed
Orlando Sentinel
July 10, 2009, 7:52PM
The couple thrust into the spotlight by former astronaut Lisa Nowak plan to marry next year.

Colleen Shipman and Billy Oefelein announced their engagement this week in their hometown newspapers — the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News and Beaver County (Pa.) Times.

Orlando police say Nowak, a mission specialist on space shuttle Discovery's flight in July 2006, drove from Houston to Orlando International Airport in February 2007. She's accused of trying to attack Shipman, a former U.S. Air Force officer, who was dating Oefelein, also an astronaut at the time and Nowak's former love.

Nowak is charged with attempted kidnapping and burglary with assault, which is punishable of up to life in prison. She also faces a misdemeanor battery charge. A trial is set for Dec. 7.

Nowak is still assigned to the Corpus Christi air station, where she works on special projects in the curriculum department, according to the Navy.

Oefelein and Shipman retired from the military and are living in Alaska, where she works as a freelance writer for a small business and he is a test-pilot instructor.

Oefelein popped the question on June 20 while on a 110-mile canoe trip on Beaver Creek in Alaska. “That night, Billy O. retrieved a ring he had hidden in the fishing box and proposed ... on bended knee,” the announcement said.

[Nut44x4]

Astronauts in love triangle to marry (remember Nowak and adult diapers story?)
posted by Muffybeeeeee

http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=5655.0

[Nut44x4]

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Jilted astronaut Lisa Nowak gets year's probation

Astronaut who drove 1,000 miles across US armed with pepper spray to confront love rival avoids trial with plea bargain

The astronaut who drove 1,000 miles across the US – armed with pepper spray and allegedly wearing a nappy – to confront a love rival has been given a year's probation after charges of attempted kidnapping were dropped in a plea bargain.

The story, with all the elements of the most baroque daytime soap opera – handsome married astronauts, glamorous air force officers, amorous emails exchanged in outer space – gripped the nation when it broke two years ago.

But the trial due to start next month has been dropped. Instead Lisa Nowak will serve a year's probation, do 50 hours' community service and must send a letter of apology to Colleen Shipman, an air force captain at the time of the incident and her rival for the affections of Nasa astronaut Bill Oefelein.

Nowak and Oefelein, who met while training to go into space but never flew on the same mission, were sacked by Nasa when the story broke and returned to their careers in the navy. Shipman, who testified that she was permanently traumatised by the incident, left her job on medical grounds and now lives in Alaska with Oefelein.

Nowak and Oefelein had a three-year affair before he left both her and his wife for Shipman. Nowak learned of this when she found copies of emails, many lodged as evidence, including one sent by Shipman when Oefelein was on board the shuttle Discovery.

Nowak had copies of the emails in her car when she drove from her home in Houston, Texas, to confront Shipman on 5 February 2007 after she finished work at Orlando International airport in Florida. She was wearing a wig, trenchcoat and dark glasses when she was arrested after pepper-spraying Shipman's car, inside which the terrified woman had locked herself. Nowak was also reported to be wearing an adult nappy so she would not have to make any stops on her trip, a claim later denied by her lawyer.

She initially faced charges of kidnap and battery, and was warned she could be charged with intention to murder. In court in Orlando yesterday, Nowak said: "I am sincerely sorry for causing fear and misunderstanding and all the intense public exposure you have encountered." She pleaded guilty to burglary of a car, third-degree felony and misdemeanor battery.

Shipman told the court she was still terrified, kept a shotgun and had alarms installed at home. "It was in her eyes, a blood-chilling expression of unlimited rage and glee," she said. "I am 100% certain Lisa Nowak came here to murder me."

A Nasa internal inquiry after the incident caused the agency further mortification, with allegations that astronauts were permitted to board spaceships or training flights despite medical warnings that they were drunk or unfit. Annual psychological screenings, and codes of conduct for astronauts, are being introduced.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/11/astronaut-lisa-nowak-probation

[Nut44x4]

 



 
'Diaper Lady' Shuttle Astronaut Strikes Plea Deal in Love Triangle Attack
Thursday November 12, 2009

The naval officer and former astronaut at the center of a bizarre love triangle has pleaded guilty to felony burglary of a car and misdemeanor battery.
Lisa Nowak, who rode the Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station in 2006, allegedly drove nonstop from Texas to Orlando in February, 2007, to confront a woman who was seeing the same man -- William A. Oefelein, who was also an astronaut at the time.

Police say Nowak told them she wore diapers so she wouldn't have to visit any restrooms along the way. Then, dressed in a wig and trench coat, she pretended to be in need of help at the Orlando Airport as she flagged down Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman.

She allegedly sprayed Shipman with pepper spray, and was intent on kidnapping her... but Shipman managed to get away and call police... leading to some of NASA's strangest and most unwanted headlines.

The plea deal means Nowak will not serve any jail time beyond the two days she already spent in custody, and will have to take an anger management course and fulfill 50 hours of community service.

Nowak was a mission specialist on STS-121, a 2006 shuttle Discovery flight to the International Space Station. Until this incident, NASA had never fired any astronauts... but both Nowak and Oefelein were dismissed and reassigned to the Navy, and a new astronaut code of conduct was created. (Love, Sex & Marriage)

http://weirdnews.about.com/b/2009/11/12/diaper-lady-shuttle-astronaut-strikes-plea-deal-in-love-triangle-attack.htm

[trimmonthelake]

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2010/5/24/judge_denies_lisa_nowak_probation_request.html
 Judge Denies Lisa Nowak's Probation Request
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 4:18:40 AM
Reported by Stephanie Coueignoux

ORLANDO -- A judge has denied the early probation for for Lisa Nowak, the former astronaut and Navy captain caught in a violent love triangle in 2007.

Even though Judge Mark Lubet denied the request, which was filed by Nowak's attorney, she will have more freedom.

Colleen Shipman, the romantic rival Nowak was charged with trying to harm, wrote a letter to the judge objecting to Nowak's request.

She wrote: "I believe Captain Nowak's request to be quite arrogant considering the premeditated and malicious nature of her crime."

While Lubet denied the request, he placed Nowak on administrative probation, meaning she won't have to check in with a parole officer any longer.

Nowak is not allowed to contact Shipman or William Ofelein, the other astronaut in the love triangle.

She's also still forbidden to travel to Alaska or California unless it's on official Navy business.

Nowak has about six more months of probation left.

Back in November 2009, Nowak pleaded guilty to one count of battery and one burglary of a conveyance.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7160865.html
Panel reportedly wants Nowak out of Navy
August 19, 2010

 According to an NBC News report on Thursday, a Navy board of inquiry has recommended that former astronaut Lisa Nowak should be ousted from the Navy with a less-than-honorable discharge and be demoted from captain to commander.

The action came after a hearing in Jacksonville, Fla., at which Nowak was present.

Nowak, who flew on a space shuttle mission in 2006, was arrested after making a 900-mile drive from Houston to Orlando in 2007 to confront a rival for the affections of space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein. Nowak was terminated as an astronaut by NASA soon after her arrest, and she was reassigned to Corpus Christi Naval Air Station.

In November, she pleaded guilty to felony burglary and misdemeanor battery. Nowak was given a year's probation on the civilian criminal convictions.

The board of inquiry will forward its recommendation to Navy Secretary Ray Maybus, who will make the final decision on Nowak's punishment.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/27226991/detail.html
Ex-Astronaut Lisa Nowak Wants Record Sealed
March 17, 2011

Former astronaut Lisa Nowak, who lost her NASA job over a bizarre airport attack on a romantic rival, is asking a judge to seal her criminal record.
 ::snipping2::
The court motion filed earlier this month requests that her record be sealed "as it is a significant hindrance to the future economic well-being of her family."

[MuffyBee]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-07-29-astronaut-lisa-nowak-discharged-navy_n.htm?csp=obinsite
Ex-astronaut Lisa Nowak forced out of Navy
July 29, 2011

(AP) A former astronaut banished from NASA after she confronted a romantic rival in a bizarre episode is being expelled from the Navy, officials said Thursday.
Capt. Lisa Nowak will retire with an "other than honorable" discharge and her pay grade will be knocked down one rank, Assistant Secretary of Navy Juan Garcia said in a statement.

Nowak's conduct "fell well short" of what is expected of Navy officers and she "demonstrated a complete disregard for the well-being of a fellow service member," Garcia said.
 ::snipping2::
Nowak was sentenced in 2009 to a year of probation in the altercation after pleading guilty to burglary charges.

Since her dismissal from the astronaut corps, Nowak has been working at the Chief of Naval Air Training station in Corpus Christi, Texas. She will be demoted to commander when her retirement takes effect Sept. 1.

The "other than honorable" discharge may affect veterans' benefits for Nowak, who has been in the Navy for 20 years. A call to her mobile phone was not returned.

The decision by the Navy came after a board of inquiry heard testimony last year.