Free Republic

The space shuttle pilot involved in a love triangle that led to a bizarre show-down between a female astronaut and her rival is to leave Nasa. William Oefelein, 42, has been reassigned to the navy, his original corps, the US space agency said. Astronaut Lisa Nowak, who had an affair with him, is awaiting trial on charges of attempted kidnapping and assault. In February she drove across five states to confront her love rival and pepper-sprayed her car. On her 1,600km (1,000 mile) journey from Texas to Florida, Capt Nowak wore a wig, as well as a nappy so...

ORLANDO, Fla. - The space shuttle pilot at the center of a bizarre love triangle that now has astronaut Lisa Nowak facing attempted kidnapping charges told detectives Nowak "seemed a little disappointed" but accepting when he told her he was dating another woman, court records released Tuesday show. That conversation was in January. On Feb. 5, Nowak drove 900 miles from Houston to Orlando to confront the other woman. Police say Nowak, a mother of three, donned a wig and followed Colleen Shipman from an airport terminal to her car to confront her, then pepper sprayed her through a cracked...

Planned trips to Alaska by William Oefelein and fellow astronauts have been scrubbed. Oefelein was scheduled to appear Feb. 19 at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai. On March 7, he and the entire shuttle crew were booked at his alma mater, West High in Anchorage. He also had a planned appearance at the Atwood Concert Hall on March 8. The trips have been indefinitely postponed by NASA, said a spokeswoman for Conoco Phillips, which sponsored the events. No reason was given.