"...and you want to be my Latex Salesman..."

According to Wikipedia, NASA's 2007 budget is reported to be around $16.2 billion. A huge number by any standard. Smaller maybe when compared to Exxon's profit for half of last year. Miniscule when compared to the $622 billion Bush is asking for in his 2007 budget (war spending included naturally.)

But still you'd think within that 16.2 billion, NASA would find someone a little more stable than say, this:

ORLANDO, Fla. - An astronaut drove 900 miles and donned a disguise to confront a woman she believed was her rival for the affections of a space shuttle pilot, police said. She was arrested Monday and charged with attempted kidnapping and other counts.

Now quick , somebody run and get NASA's reaction to the incident so they can look even more inept:

NASA spokesman James Hartsfield in Houston said that, as of Monday, Nowak's status with the astronaut corps remained unchanged.

For the life of me, how this information ever gets ascertained is beyond me:

When she found out that Shipman was flying to Orlando from Houston, Nowak decided to confront her, according to the arrest affidavit. Nowak raced from Houston to Orlando wearing diapers so she wouldn't have to stop to urinate, authorities said.

Astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry.

Even at your lowest point, compelled to try and go after a rival, surely you don't need to reveal to the police your reason for wearing a diaper. This sounds like an episode of Cops than it does a representative of an organisation that landed on the moon.

One final quote:

Dressed in a wig and a trench coat, Nowak boarded an airport bus that Shipman took to her car in an airport parking lot. Shipman told police she noticed someone following her, hurried inside the car and locked the doors, according to the arrest affidavit.

Nowak rapped on the window, tried to open the car door and asked for a ride. Shipman refused but rolled down the car window a few inches when Nowak started crying. Nowak then sprayed a chemical into Shipman's car, the affidavit said.

Crackheads come, crackheads go, but this crackhead is forever. Someone over at Fox right now is greenlighting this as a Melrose Place meets The OC drama ready for midseason replacement, that I have no doubt of.Capt. Nowak, we hardly knew you.

Astronaut charged with kidnap attempt (yahoo! news)