Posted on 02/09/2007 9:24:42 AM PST by Fitzcarraldo
AS A FORMER NASA astronaut training manager responsible for crew training for shuttle missions, I was not entirely surprised by the initial reports of the sad, bizarre case of Lisa Marie Nowak.
This isn't the first case of astronauts having difficulties in their personal lives. Usually, the straying astronaut simply resigns or retires, and everything is hushed up. But being charged with assault, attempted kidnapping and attempted murder is far greater than anything I ever observed or imagined could occur. Perhaps this tragedy will bring some of the agency's long-ignored problems into the open.
First is the tremendous and unnecessary pressures brought to bear on the members of NASA's cloistered astronaut office. This is the division at the Johnson Space Center in Houston where the astronauts work. It is the office that assigns each astronaut his or her job. Since most astronauts are waiting to be put on a mission, these jobs — such as working on the shuttle hydraulic system or sitting in on meetings about a new science payload — are important, but they're usually no more difficult than the ones accomplished routinely by other NASA engineers and scientists. The difference is the astronauts come under constant scrutiny by their management to determine who will fly and who will not. Some never get assigned to a space mission, yet they are called astronauts as long as they work for NASA.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Probably got put on SSRIs recently.
14 posted on 02/09/2007 10:29:53 AM MST by Seruzawa
BINGO on the SSRIs
"What makes an astronaut crack?"
Apparently, her crack.
"What makes an astronaut crack?"
The right stuff?
Reentry?
How interesting. I didn't know he was still alive.
This is quite a good article, and his observations about astronauts can apply to many other careers. People with impressive accomplishments are not necessarily more emotionally stable than Wal-mart cashiers, and some are going to "go astro" in a difficult job situation.
If nothing else, his proposal to eliminate many of the "astronaut" positions would reduce the likelihood of an astronaut flip-out, simply on a numerical basis!
The same things that make plumbers crack.
What make ANYONE crack?
It happens !
After being weightless, they come crashing back to earth reality and become morose over the huge weight gain.
When they crack a tooth biting into one of those space food sticks?
Doubt it. I know the USAF won't let you fly if you are on SSRIs, or any other anti-depressants. I would be suprised if either NASA or the Navy did either.
Why does this have to have anything to do with her job?
What if she had become a high powered lawyer? Or doctor?
Would she have "cracked" then?
I think so...because this is an issue of character and her type of personality.
She couldn't stand to lose - and she wasn't GOING to lose.
I agree with you completely. I think this woman might well have detonated no matter what her occupation was. Of course, if she hadn't been an astronaut, it probably wouldn't have made the national news.
Answer from "The Right Stuff":
"My name...Jose Jimenez!"
A suitable subject, a sense of irony, and timing...
Rocket Boys bump
Klingons around...
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