Posted on 03/07/2007 12:58:29 PM PST by SmithL
Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP) -- Astronaut Lisa Nowak was fired from NASA on Wednesday, a month after she was charged with trying to kidnap a woman she regarded as her romantic rival for the affections of a space shuttle pilot.
NASA officials said Nowak's dismissal did not reflect the space agency's belief in her guilt or innocence. The agency said it lacked an administrative system to handle the allegations because Nowak is a naval officer on assignment to NASA, rather than a NASA civil servant.
If Nowak were a civil servant, NASA would have the choice of placing her on administrative leave, leave without pay or indefinite suspension until the charges are resolved, said NASA spokesman James Hartsfield in Houston. But because she is an officer, those options are not available.
Nowak, a captain in the Navy, instead will return to the military.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I realized it might be taken that way just after I hit Post. Sorry about that, no offense intended.
If that's the case then they should fire the other moonbat Shipman. Anybody that puts that kind of drivel in NASA e-mails is not working with a full deck.
I hope I still look good at 70!
...that's 30 years from now.
40 is young!
I got question Monk do they have frantiztein rules in NASA that what I thinking right now
I got question Monk do they have frantiztein rules in NASA that what I thinking right now
Nothing, probably. She's facing charges in a civilian criminal court. They can handle it. If she's convicted she'll probably retire and save her pension.
Nolte should have gone to the gallows for Cape Fear.
Let her service the fleet.
Aside from his personal life, he's a terrible actor.
...NASAs behavioral guidelines align with standard government rules. Active U.S. military personnel, meanwhile, are subject to the Uniform Military Code of Justice, which governs fraternization, conduct unbecoming an officer, and other regulations.
They are both Naval officers and we have to defer to the Navy on what their code of conduct is, Beutel said. Thats slightly different than say a typical civil servant.
NASA has specific codes of astronaut conduct for spaceflyers living and working aboard the International Space Station (ISS), but on Earth the agencys reach is purposely limited to their professional activities.
There are rules as far as being government employees, but NASA doesnt monitor or restrict the private lives of employees, NASA spokesperson Kylie Clem, of the agencys Johnson Space Center in Houston, told SPACE.com, adding that the guidelines are currently expected to remain unchanged.
Private fraternization among astronauts is not prohibited, NASA officials said.
Astronauts dated each other, astronaut married each other, there has been a married couple that flew on the same shuttle mission, said astronaut biographer Michael Cassutt, referring to the 1992 flight of then-married astronauts Mark Lee and Jan Davis aboard Endeavour during NASAs STS-47 mission. The guidelines are unspoken, or if they're spoken theyre general. Theyre grown ups, and youre expected to behave like grown ups.
They are both Naval officers and we have to defer to the Navy on what their code of conduct is, Beutel said. Thats slightly different than say a typical civil servant.
Some Navy officials believe any additional charges for Nowak beyond the current civil allegations would likely await the outcome of the civil proceedings, one U.S. Navy official said....
I am Captain Lisa Nowak and I will be flying you all to your destination.
So just sit back and relax..."
Eh?
Especially if you're fifty-one.
They all had a hand in disrupting NASA as an organization.
"I categorically deny that I was dipping into the Astro pool."
Amazing what sitting in a diaper for 900 miles will do to you...
"Nowak is a naval officer on assignment to NASA"
Can you say UCMJ!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.