Oct. 21 Court Date Set for Ex-Astronaut

Lawyers for the state and for former astronaut Lisa Nowak are gearing up for a day of legal wrangling on Oct. 21, when Florida's 5th District Court of Appeal will hear arguments about Nowak's statement to police and evidence found in her car.

Circuit Court Judge Marc Lubet threw out the statement and evidence in November, when he ruled that police had not properly read Nowak her Miranda rights.

He also stated that she was coerced into allowing police to search her car, where they found maps to guide her from Texas to Orlando International Airport and to the Cape Canaveral home of her rival for the affections of another astronaut.

In addition, police said they found used, toddler-sized diapers in the car, adding that Nowak told them she used them so she wouldn't have to stop on her 975-mile journey to Florida. Her attorney has denied that.

Nowak drove from Houston to Orlando International Airport the weekend of Feb. 5, 2007, to confront Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman about their mutual love interest, former astronaut Bill Oefelein, records show.

In the disputed statement, Nowak admitted to police that she pepper-sprayed Shipman in the Blue Lot because she "just wanted to talk to her." She was wearing a trench coat, short-hair wig and glasses, and carried a duffel bag filled with a mallet, latex gloves, BB pistol, hunting knife and rubber surgical tubing, according to statements made to police.

She was arrested minutes after the incident at a nearby Blue Lot bus stop.

Nowak faces charges of attempted kidnapping, battery and attempted vehicle burglary with battery in connection with the incident.

NASA fired her and Oefelein shortly afterward, and revamped its psychological screenings for potential astronauts.

Nowak's criminal case is on hold until the appeals court makes its decision.

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