Hearing in Lisa Nowak Case Delayed

Today's hearing in the Lisa Nowak case has been canceled in Orlando, prosecutors said.

And another hearing set for Tuesday in Orange County circuit court may be canceled, too.

The fired astronaut accused of driving 13 hours to confront a romantic rival was charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and destruction of evidence. Trial is expected to start in September.

She was charged Feb. 6 after she drove nonstop from Houston to confront Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman in a parking lot at Orlando International Airport. Arrest records said Nowak wore adult diapers so she wouldn't have to stop during the drive.

According to arrest records and court documents, Nowak pepper-sprayed her apparent rival for fellow astronaut Bill Oefelein's attentions in an attempt to get Shipman to talk to her.

Nowak was wearing a disguise and had brought with her a BB pistol, knife, medical rubber tubing and garbage bags, the records indicated.

Oefelein, a Navy commander, said he broke off his relationship with Nowak in January to see Shipman, who is assigned to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Nowak was fired from NASA but still is with the Navy. She's been reassigned to the staff at the Chief of Naval Air Training in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Both Nowak and Oefelein could face court-martials for cheating on their spouses, conduct that the military considers unbecoming to an officer, officials said. Oefelein is divorced and Nowak is separated.

• Media Contact Limited in Astronaut Case
• Astronaut Biography: Lisa Nowak

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