Florida police photo of Navy Capt Lisa Nowak
Ms Nowak says she did not intend to harm Ms Shipman
A US astronaut accused of attacking a woman she considered competition for the affection of a shuttle pilot has been charged with attempted murder.
Earlier a Florida court had ordered that Navy Capt Lisa Nowak, 43, who was facing charges of attempted kidnapping and battery, could be freed on bail.
However, the introduction of the more serious charge that she intended to murder Colleen Shipman reverses that.
A mother of three, Capt Nowak flew on the space shuttle Discovery last July.
Airport interception The man at the centre of the love triangle was said to be Navy Cmdr William Oefelein, who was a pilot on the Discovery's mission to the space station in December.
Though he and Capt Nowak never flew on the same mission, they did train together.
According to her written police statement, Capt Nowak described her attachment to Cmdr Oefelein as "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship".
Capt Nowak (right) and Cmdr William Oefelein
Capt Nowak and Cmdr William Oefelein trained together
Capt Nowak is understood to have thought that Ms Shipman was romantically involved with Cmdr Oefelein.
So, when she heard that her rival was due to fly from Texas to Florida, she decided to drive the 1,000 miles (1,600km) from her home in Houston to Orlando International Airport to intercept and confront her.
Capt Nowak told police she had not wanted to harm Ms Shipman, just wanting to scare her rival into talking about her relationship with Cmdr Oefelein.
To avoid toilet breaks during the long drive to Orlando, Capt Nowak wore an adult nappy - such as astronauts wear during shuttle launches and landings - and she disguised herself with a wig, dark glasses and a trench coat.
Pepper spray Once at the airport she waited for Ms Shipman to arrive and then followed her onto an airport shuttle bus which dropped Ms Shipman at her car.
According to a police affidavit, Ms Shipman says she became aware that someone was following her and so hurried into the vehicle and locked the doors.
Capt Nowak reportedly banged on the car window and asked for a lift, and then to use Ms Shipman's mobile phone.
Capt Nowak
Capt Nowak flew on space shuttle Discovery in July last year
Ms Shipman refused, but rolled down the window when Capt Nowak began to cry.
Ms Shipman was then attacked with pepper spray, the statement says. She managed to drive to a car park booth and police were called.
An officer followed Capt Nowak and she was stopped allegedly carrying the wig, an air rifle, a steel mallet, rubber tubing, dustbin bags, black gloves and a knife.
A search of her vehicle revealed pepper spray and e-mails between Ms Shipman and Cmdr Oefelein, as well as Ms Shipman's home address and hand written directions to the house, police said.
Bail hearing Earlier on Tuesday, Capt Nowak appeared before a Florida court via video link from an Orange Country jail.
Orange County Circuit Judge Mike Murphy ordered that she be released on condition that she pay a $15,500 (£7900) bail bond, wear a satellite-tracking device and agree to make no attempt to contact her alleged victim.
Dressed in a dark blue prison uniform and shackled at the waist, Capt Nowak stood still, with her head bowed, for most of the hearing only speaking to answer "yes" when Judge Murphy asked her if she understood the conditions of her release.
That release was expected to occur later on Tuesday, but was quashed when police filed attempted murder charges against Capt Nowak.
Fellow astronauts Steve Lindsey, the commander of Capt Nowak's mission to the International Space Station last July, and Chris Ferguson both attended the hearing.
Capt Ferguson later said he was "perplexed" by Capt Nowak's recent behaviour.
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6335947.stm
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darken'd ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits...
-- John Keats
Guantánamo ou le scandale des droits humains
Deux membres de la police militaire américaine escortent un détenu, le camp Delta
© APGraphicsBank
Il y a plus de cinq ans que les autorités des États-Unis transféraient les premiers détenus de la "guerre contre le terrorisme" au camp de détention de Guantánamo, à Cuba.
Malgré des protestations internationales, des centaines de personnes représentant plus de 30 nationalités sont toujours détenues là-bas. Elles n'ont jamais été inculpées et il est peu probable qu'elles bénéficient un jour d'un procès équitable.
Trop, c'est trop! Guantánamo est un symbole d'injustice et de mauvais traitements dans la "guerre contre le terrorisme".
Le gouvernement des États-Unis doit fermer le camp.
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/guantanamobay-index-fra