Star Crossed: The Story of Astronaut Lisa Nowak

Investigative reporter Moore, who covered the criminal case of Lisa Nowak for Florida Today, explains in her gripping debut how Nowak, a decorated astronaut and mother of three, could risk everything for love. After Nowak’s boyfriend, fellow NASA astronaut Billy Oelefein, broke up with her in late 2006, saying he was in love with Air Force officer Colleen Shipman, Nowak concocted a bizarre scheme. On February 3, 2007, Nowak drove almost nonstop from her home in Houston, Tex., to the Orlando, Fla., airport, where she planned to confront her rival, who she knew from information she’d seen in Oelefein’s apartment was due to arrive on a particular flight. Nowak was arrested after assaulting Shipman with pepper spray in the airport parking lot and claimed she only wanted to talk to Shipman, but when the police found weapons and trash bags in Nowak’s car, they suspected she intended to kill the woman. Nowak, who pleaded guilty to third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor assault, received one year probation and was drummed out of NASA. This is must reading for true crime fans. (Sept.)