TV Crime Drama Borrows Plot From Nowak Case

A plot ripped from Brevard County headlines unfolds on tonight's episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" on NBC.

Tonight's show, titled "Rocket Man," sounds eerily close to that of the Lisa Nowak case, in which the former shuttle astronaut allegedly plotted to kidnap a romantic rival.

According to a Web listing by TV Guide, this is what's in store for viewers: A female astronaut is found murdered in her hotel room on the morning of a press conference. The investigation leads to several suspects, including a jealous professional rival, an ex-boyfriend and a married space-shuttle commander with whom the victim was having an affair.

Nowak was arrested in February after police say she drove from Houston to Florida to confront Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman in a parking lot at the Orlando International Airport.

Authorities have said Nowak, astronaut Bill Oefelein and Shipman were involved in a love triangle. According to Oefelein's statement to police, he broke it off in January to see only Shipman, who is stationed at Patrick Air Force Base.

Nowak, 43, pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping, burglary with assault and battery and destruction of evidence.

NASA released Nowak from the astronaut corps a month after her arrest.

Her trial was moved to September.

Editor's note: The program airs at 9:00 p.m. EDT on NBC (Check local listings).

• NASA, Navy, Remove Astronaut from Spaceflight Ranks
• Astronaut Biography: Lisa Nowak
• Return to Flight: NASA's Road to STS-121
• All About Astronauts

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