How did Nowak get in the Astronaut corps while mentally ill?

[silylene old]

It seems that much of the evidence against her was tossed out by a judge since it was 'coerced'. Included in the evidence tossed out were "some soiled toddler-sized diapers".<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p><b>Evidence against former astronaut tossed</b><br /><br /> By TRAVIS REED, Associated Press Writer <br />Fri Nov 2, 10:57 PM ET<br /><br />ORLANDO, Fla. - A judge agreed Friday to toss much of the evidence against Nowak, a former astronaut accused of making a diaper-assisted, 1,000-mile drive to confront a woman vying for the affections of the same space shuttle pilot. <br /><br />Investigators took advantage of 44-year-old Lisa Nowak, who had not slept for more than 24 hours, coercing her into giving information in a lengthy arrest interview, Orange County Circuit Judge Marc L. Lubet said.<br /><br /><font color="yellow">Lubet granted a defense motion to throw out comments she made during the six-hour interview and items seized during a search of her BMW, including maps to alleged victim Colleen Shipman's home, large garbage bags, latex gloves and some soiled toddler-sized diapers.</font><br /><br />Nowak's defense steadfastly denies she ever wore or soiled them to avoid stopping during her drive from Houston, but a detective said Nowak told him she had.<br /><br />Nowak was arrested in February after allegedly confronting Shipman, the girlfriend of former space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein. Authorities say Nowak stalked Shipman at the Orlando airport and tried to get into her car, then attacked her with pepper spray. Shipman was able to drive away.<br /><br />The ruling was a big win for the defense. But evidence from a duffel bag Nowak was carrying — a steel mallet, buck knife, BB gun resembling a real 9mm handgun, gloves and six feet of rubber tubing — remains in the case.<br /><br />Prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the order entered late Friday.<br /><br />Defense attorney Donald Lykkebak said</p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[ashish27]

Its really funny. An astronaut is fired from her job because of allegations of attemted murder and now the evidence is tossed. Will she be brought back to her job at Nasa?

 

[CalliArcale]

I hope not. Regardless of whether she planned to do harm to her romantic rival, she showed seriously poor judgment pertaining to a coworker. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Will, I love your assumption here.<br /><br />But quite frankly our medicine is no where near Star Treks.<br /><br />I think psychology only profiles people. But how much knowledge to they know? I bet its pretty finite. I bet they are still learning. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[l3p3r]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>great achievement does not preclude a person suffering from a mental illness, nor does mental illness preclude great achievement. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>well put. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Thank you! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[imobig2001]

hell0o<br />hi<br />

 

[missile_mother]

"Its really funny. An astronaut is fired from her job because of allegations of attemted murder and now the evidence is tossed. Will she be brought back to her job at Nasa?"<br /><br />Not all the evidence. Just the evidence in her car. She had enough stuff on her person, which will still allow for the charges to stand

 

[missile_mother]

"Does someone have details on how severe her illness was? The article I saw said that there was documentation but I did not see any. As someone with mental problems, I would hope that some with minor problems would be able to get around them. However, if the problem is severe enough to provide for a insanity plea, would that person still qualify as an astronaut? I assume that a pilot would never get in. However, what about Mission Specialists like Nowak?"<br /><br />She is a Navy Captain (which same rank as a Colonel in the other services) and test pilot with over 1500 hours in 30 different aircraft. She is already a 99 percentile person. The stature of her rank and career already made what she did out of the norm. Here selection as an "astronaut" doesn't make it any more worse, just more public<br /><br />Also there is no real difference between "mission specialist" and "pilot astronaut" when it come to mental health. Also, it is not "easier" become or the standards lower for a mission specialists. Actually, it is harder, pilots candidates only have to compete with other pilots vs MS candidates have to compete with all types of careers.