Astronaut Charged with Attempted Murder

Lisa Marie Nowak, an astronaut that police say attacked a rival for another astronaut's affection at Orlando International Airport on Monday, is being charged with attempted first-degree murder today.

Orlando Police announced the additional charge just hours after Nowak was granted $15,000 bail on kidnapping and two battery charges by an Orange County Judge.

All of the charges stem from Nowak driving more than 12 hours from Texas to meet the 1 a.m. flight of another woman who had also been seeing the astronaut Nowak pined for, according to police.

Her commander at NASA, Steve Lindsey, and fellow astronaut Chris Ferguson both appeared on her behalf this morning. The men flew in last night in a show of support and were prepared to escort her home once she was released.

"We're here supporting Lisa. Our primary concern is her health and well-being as she gets through through this," said Lindsey, who has known Nowak for 11 years. "We're a close family and we try to take care of our own."

Nowak -- who was a mission specialist on a Space Shuttle Discovery flight last summer -- was wearing a trench coat and wig and had a knife, BB pistol, and latex gloves in her car, reports show. They also found diapers, which Nowak said she used so she wouldn't have to stop on the 1,000-mile drive. Reports show that after U.S. Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman's flight arrived, Nowak followed her to the airport's Blue Lot for long-term parking, tried to get into Shipman's car and then doused her with pepper spray.

Nowak, 43, is charged with attempted kidnapping, battery, and attempted vehicle burglary with battery. Orange County Judge Mike Murphy did not find probable cause on another charge, the destruction of evidence. He set bond on the other three charges at $15,000, with a $500 bond on the evidence count.

He also ordered that Nowak be fitted with a GPS device on her ankle, which will not allow her east of Orange County. Her victim works east, at the Cape. Murphy ordered Nowak not to have contact with the victim, who according to testimony, was a stranger to her until the two met at the airport.