NASA astronaut charged with kidnap attempt

This image made from AP Television News video on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007 shows astronaut Lisa Nowak during a scheduled court appearance Tuesday in Fla. Nowak, a married mother of three who police believe was in a love triangle with a fellow astronaut, was charged with trying to abduct a woman she saw as her romantic rival, authorities said. (AP Photos/AP Television News)

This probably should be filed under WTF? It is really starting to make the news headlines on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC News, and the rest of the news outlets. So we'll go with the MSNBC story:

ORLANDO, Fla. - A NASA astronaut charged with attempting to kidnap a romantic rival in a love triangle with another astronaut was allowed to go free on bail Tuesday on the condition that she not contact the alleged victim.

The judge told Lisa Marie Nowak she could be released on $15,500 bond, then asked if she understood the conditions. She responded "yes."

Nowak, a married mother of three, stood in a jail uniform, usually facing down during the hearing. She planned to return home to Houston, and the judge ordered her to wear a tracking device.

The 43-year-old robotics specialist faces charges including attempted kidnapping, attempted vehicle burglary with battery, destruction of evidence and battery.

Nowak, who flew a mission to the space station in July 2006, was awaiting her next flight assignment at the time of her arrest. From MSNBC.

Police said she drove 900 miles, donned a disguise and was armed with a BB gun and pepper spray when she confronted a woman she believed was a competitor for the affections of Navy Cmdr. William Oefelein, an unmarried fellow astronaut.

Nowak rode aboard Discovery in July. Oefelein, 41, piloted the space shuttle Discovery in December. They trained together but never flew together.

Nowak told police that her relationship with Oefelein was "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship," according to an arrest affidavit. Police found a love letter to Oefelein in her car.

According to authorities, Nowak believed another woman, Colleen Shipman, was romantically involved with Oefelein. When Nowak found out Shipman was flying to Orlando from Houston, Nowak decided to confront her early Monday, according to the arrest affidavit.

What people will do for love....or lust/ Either way, this story will be all over the mainstream news media today--a female NASA astronaut committing a kidnapping crime of passion? A love triangle gone bad? An affair, or crime, of the heart? You can bet that the media will eat this stuff up.