Should Lisa Novak have been fired by NASA?
By albert2412
@albert2412 (1782)
United States
March 7, 2007 5:12pm CST
I just read that NASA fired Lisa Novak, the astronaut who wore the diaper and drove to Florida and sprayed anopther woman in the face with pepper spray. I am not saying that Novak is guilty or not guilty. My question is should she have been given a fair trial to determine her guilt or innocence of the charge of attempted murder that has placed against her? Should she have been given her day in court before she was found guilty by NASA and fired?
5 people like this
9 responses
@Stringbean (1272)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I cannot understand why everyone seems so fascinated by the information that Ms. Novak was wearing a diaper. Actually, according to what I have read, it was an adult diaper, probably something like Depends, which are used by thousands and thousands of adults who suffer from bladder problems.
As far as the firing of this woman, since she was caught in the act, I think that NASA did the right thing.
@Stringbean (1272)
• United States
7 Mar 07
P.S. If you read the newspaper articles, I think you will find that the charge was not attempted murder.
***Nowak, 43, is charged with attempted kidnapping for allegedly confronting her former boyfriend's new love-interest in a parking lot at Florida's Orlando International Airport on February 5.
In addition to attempted kidnapping, Nowak was charged with battery and burglary of a vehicle with a weapon.
3 people like this
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I do agree with you about the adult diapers and that there are many adults who need to wear them as result of bladder problems or other physical ailments. There is nothing wrong with an adult wearing a diaper and actually knew someone that wore a diaper. She was not charged with attempted murder but her crimes were still bad and deserved to be fired.
2 people like this
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I don't know either why people want to talk about Novak wearing a diaper. My only concern about the diapers is that the other children at school in Clear Lake will make fun of Novak's kids over the diaper. As for firing her, we do not need dangerous people going into space on a Nasa rocket.
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I think she definitely should have been fired. Court trial or not, she was a representative of NASA at the time she pulled her stunt. Therefore, she was responsible for projecting a positive professional image. And she most certainly did NOT do that by attempting to murder the other woman.
2 people like this
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I think that I tend to agree with you. It is important for astronauts, just like teachers, to be good people in their private lives. When Novak sprayed the other ladies' face she threw mud on Nasa's image.
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I think she should have been fired for her behavior as it is unprofessional and could cause harm to the other person using that pepper spray. If she was given a day in court, I feel the only thing that could save her from being charged with attempted murder is a plea for insanity.
2 people like this
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Well, I do not think that we need Novak working at Nasa. Surely there is no one there who would want to work around her. Would you feel safe working next to her? It was probably a good idea to fire her before someone at Nasa got seriously hurt.
@suscan (1955)
• United States
9 Mar 07
Apparently she had some sort of major breakdown so she would not be able to cope with her duties. She really has damaged the image of NASA,I would be concerned to let someone like her go up in space. Yes i do think they had a right to fire her.
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
14 Mar 07
If she has had a major breakdown, we need to get her some psychological help. I hope that she has medical insurance to pay for any help she may need.
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I think that they should put Novak in a mental hospital. The stress of being an astronaut must have been too much for her.
@blade6372 (47)
• Lebanon
26 Mar 07
This is a public matter, being with NASA or not...
So I think she should be presented to the court and be given a fair trial, like everybody else...
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
29 Mar 07
Albert2412,
No, she should not be given her job back, even if found innocent.
She is an officer in the US military. They are held to and agree to uphold a much higher standard of conduct for themselves than is expected of others.
I also strongly suspect a charge of conduct unbecoming an officer is in the making in addition to everything else.
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
26 Mar 07
If she is found innocent she should be allowed to get her job back.
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
29 Mar 07
Lisa Novak is an officer in the US military, an O-6, in fact. Her duties were that of an astronaunt assigned to NASA. All military officers are subject to reassignment for any reason at any time without recourse. When you receive orders to go to a different job, you go to the different job. Your superiors do not have to justify to you why you have been reasigned.
As to her day in court, don't worry, she'll get one if she wants it.
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
13 Mar 07
Yes, I do agree that she is dangerous. She has had some sort of mental breakdown and I would be afriad to go into space with her.
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
6 Apr 07
This kind of job..apart frombeing prestigious..is also very demanding and quite dangerous..A person with such an unstable mind would be a danger to her space mates and not a good roloe model for others following such a bright and illustrious and high paid career..With prestige comes responsibility..maybe I am old fashioned lol..
