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The surreal case of astronaut Lisa Nowak being charged with attempted first degree murder seems like some bizarre Hollywood movie plot. Apparently still working for NASA at the time of the crime, Nowak, a Navy captain became an astronaut in 1996 and flew her first shuttle mission in July, serving as a mission specialist aboard the Discovery.

Nowak who recently separated from her husband of 19 years, is accused of accosting Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman, 30, in the parking lot of Orlando International Airport early Monday and attacking her with pepper spray. Both women were “in a relationship” with Navy Cmdr. Bill Oefelein, another astronaut, according to a police report of the incident.

NASA will review psychological screening assessments of astronauts and will determine if there are “lessons to be learned” from the incident involving Nowak and if modifications need to be made, according to NASA deputy administrator Shana Dale.

An example of requirements to become a Mission Specialist Astronaut Candidate
1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. Degree must be followed by at least three years of related, progressively responsible, professional experience. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for part or all of the experience requirement (master’s degree = 1 year of experience, doctoral degree = 3 years of experience). Quality of academic preparation is important.

2. Ability to pass a NASA space physical, which is similar to a military or civilian flight physical and includes the following specific standards:
- Distance visual acuity: 20/200 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye.
- Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in a sitting position.
- Height between 58.5 and 76 inches.

Other general requirements
Complete military water survival training where the candidate must swim 3 lengths of a 25M pool without stopping, and then swim 3 lengths of the pool in a flightsuit and tennis shoes. The strokes allowed are freestyle, breast, and sidestroke. There is no time limit. They must also tread water continuously for 10 minutes.

Michael Coats, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, issued a statement saying Nowak “is officially on 30-day leave and has been removed from flight status and all mission-related activities.”

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