Astronaut arrest prompts NASA to review screening process

NASA will conduct a thorough review of its psychologicalscreening process after one ofits astronauts was charged Tuesday with attempted first-degree murder for allegedly trying to kill a romantic rival.

But deputy NASA administrator Shana Dale said NASA officials"saw no indications of concern" with 43-year-old navy captain Lisa Nowak, who has been released on $25,500 bail.

Nowak underwent a medical assessment Wednesday at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Nowak, who flew on the space shuttle Discoverylast July, has been accused of hatching a plot to kidnap Colleen Shipman, who she believed was romantically involved with space shuttle pilot William Oefelein.

Along with a review of the psychological screening process, Dale saidNASA will also examine how oftenthey conduct psychological assessments of astronauts during their career at NASA and if concerns are raised, how they are dealt with.

Dale said they will try to determine if there were "any areas of concern, any leading indicators we might have picked up on based on Lisa Nowak's dealings with other astronauts or NASAemployees."

Removed from flight duty

Shesaid Nowak has been removed from flight duty and is on 30-day leave.

Daledescribed the situation as unique and unusual, adding it is "a very difficult time for many people and it is a very tragic event."

Police allege Nowak drove 1,500 kilometresfrom Houston to Orlando, Fla., to confront Shipmanatthe Orlando airport.Police say shebroughtwith her a trench coat, wig, BB gun, pepper spray, a new steel mallet, a knife, rubber tubing and large garbage bags. She even wore a diaper to avoid bathroom breaks on the arduous trip.

Police said Nowak, wearing a wig and trench coat,approached Shipman, who was in her car at the Orlando airport, and sprayed something at her, possibly pepper spray.

Shipman then drove to a parking lot booth and sought help. Police found Nowak's car parked at a nearby motel and later arrested her.

Nowakhas beenordered to stay away from Shipman and must wear a monitoring device.

Nowak, a mother oftwin five-year-old girls and a teenage son, had recently separated from her husband after 19 years.

Jon Clark, a former NASA flight surgeon who lost his wife, astronaut Laurel Clark, in the Columbia disaster in 2003, told CNN on Wednesday that Nowak supported his family then and he supports her now.

"She was a mother before she was an astronaut. I mean, she really was into family life, and what's happened in the last few days has just been totally a shock. She is a really wonderful, good, caring person," he said. "You have to find forgiveness and love in your heart to get her through this."

Support system recommended

NASA needs to have a stronger psychological and behavioral health support system for shuttle astronauts, Clark said.

"They don't have to have any evaluation before or after a mission, and it is only when something catastrophic happens does this ever even come to light," he said.

Shipman filed a request for a protective order against Nowak. Shedescribed Nowak as "acquaintance of boyfriend," but did not identify the man. She said Nowak had stalked her for two months.

Nowak and Oefelein, 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.

Earlier, Nowak was quoted by police as saying she and Oefelein had something "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship."

Police found a letter in Nowak's car, however, that "indicated how much Mrs. Nowak loved Mr. Oefelein," an arrest affidavit said.

And Nowak had copies of e-mails between Shipman and Oefelein.

Prosecutors charged Nowak with attempted murder, basingthat on the items they say Nowak had with her and in her car.

But Nowak's lawyer Donald Lykkebak said that Nowak only wanted to talk to Shipman. Asked about the weapons, he said, "You can sit and speculate all day."