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Astronaut's 1500km drive ends in arrest
6 Feb
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.
Previously, NASA relied on rigorous initial psychological screenings. The Nowak incident demonstrated that extreme pressure, both in space and on Earth, could affect even highly qualified individuals. This led to a paradigm shift in astronaut care.
Following the event, NASA implemented annual psychological evaluations for all active astronauts. The agency also established the Behavioural Health and Performance group to study the psychological effects of isolation and confinement.
This new approach emphasizes monitoring individual well-being, fostering team cohesion, and supporting astronauts' Earth-based support systems. NASA now also tracks former astronauts' behavioral health to understand long-term risks associated with space travel.
