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Liza NovakAmerican female astronaut.
Date of Birth: 10.05.1963
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Lisa Nowak
Early Life and EducationLisa Marie Nowak, born Lisa Marie Caputo, was born on May 10, 1963, in Washington, D.C., United States. She grew up in Rockville, Maryland and completed her high school education there. In 1985, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy. Following her graduation, Nowak was assigned to spend six months at the Johnson Space Center NASA for her service.
Naval Career
After her assignment at the Johnson Space Center, Nowak underwent training at the Naval Flight School near Pensacola, Florida, and in 1987, she became a qualified flight officer of the United States Navy. In the same year, she married Richard Nowak, her fellow classmate from the academy and flight school. She served in various units and underwent training at different educational centers of the United States Navy.
In 1992, Nowak earned a Master's degree in Aviation Engineering and also a degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. She further pursued her education at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, graduating in 1994. Throughout her career, Nowak accumulated over 1500 flight hours on 30 different aircraft models.
Astronaut Career
In April 1996, Nowak was selected to participate in the NASA Astronaut Candidate Training Program. She began her training at the Johnson Space Center in August of that year. After two years of preparation, she became qualified for space missions. Nowak worked at the NASA Astronaut Office, where her husband, Rich Nowak, also worked. They have three children together, including twins.
In July 2006, Nowak, then holding the rank of Commander in the United States Navy, joined the crew of the space shuttle Discovery for a mission to the International Space Station. The astronauts spent nearly 13 days in space. Nowak served as a Mission Specialist with a specialization in robotics. Her responsibilities included operating the spacecraft's robotic arm and assisting with cargo module operations.
Personal Life and Incident
In early 2007, Lisa Nowak separated from her husband, and their children remained under his care. On February 5, 2007, Nowak attacked Captain Colleen Shipman, a member of the United States Air Force, due to a rivalry over astronaut William Oefelein. To meet Shipman, Nowak drove approximately 1400 kilometers from Houston, Texas to Orlando, Florida. The press drew attention to the fact that she used diapers during the journey to avoid making stops. At the meeting in the parking lot of the Orlando International Airport, Nowak sprayed Shipman with pepper spray.
Following the incident, Nowak was arrested, and the police found her in possession of a BB gun, a folding knife, and a rubber hose. Initially, she was charged with battery and attempted kidnapping, but the police later upgraded the charges to attempted first-degree murder. On February 6, 2007, she was released on bail of $25,000. Nowak claimed that her intention was only to scare Shipman without causing harm. She described her relationship with Oefelein as "more than working, but less than romantic." After the incident involving Nowak, NASA announced plans to enhance psychological monitoring methods for astronauts. There were reports in the media about a television company considering making a film based on Nowak's story.
On March 2, 2007, Nowak was officially charged with attempted kidnapping, but the court, against the police's recommendations, did not charge her with attempted murder. As of March 8, 2007, with mutual agreement between NASA and the United States Navy, Nowak was dismissed from her position as an astronaut and awaited a new assignment from the Navy. Lisa Nowak received several awards throughout her career, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal. She was promoted to the rank of Captain in the United States Navy after her spaceflight.
