Why was astronaut Lisa Nowak arrested in February 2007?

Lisa Nowak was arrested in Orlando after driving nearly 1500 kilometers to confront a romantic rival, an incident that initially led to attempted murder charges.

What changes did NASA implement after the Lisa Nowak incident?

Following the scandal, NASA shifted to annual psychological evaluations for all active astronauts and established the Behavioural Health and Performance group.

How did the Lisa Nowak event affect NASA's astronaut support?

The event shattered the public image of astronauts and led NASA to adopt a more empathetic, science-based approach to monitoring astronaut mental health and team dynamics.

Home / Science / Astronaut's 1500km drive ends in arrest

Astronaut's 1500km drive ends in arrest

6 Feb

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Summary

Astronaut drove 1500km for romantic rival confrontation.
She wore adult diapers to avoid stops on the drive.
Incident prompted major NASA mental health protocol changes.

In February 2007, mission specialist Lisa Nowak was arrested in Orlando following a journey of nearly 1500 kilometers from Houston. The arrest stemmed from a romantic rivalry involving a fellow astronaut and concerned a confrontation at Orlando International Airport.

During her extensive drive, Nowak reportedly utilized adult diapers to bypass the need for rest stops. She faced initial charges including attempted first-degree murder, attempted kidnapping, and battery.

While the attempted murder charge was resolved in 2009 through a plea agreement, the scandal significantly impacted NASA. It challenged the perception of astronauts as emotionally invincible and highlighted a gap in mental health support for long-duration missions.