A NASA astronaut who was arrested after driving hundreds of miles to confront a romantic rival,

appeared in court this morning facing charges that included attempted kidnapping, and was ordered released on $15,500

bond.

The astronaut, Lisa Nowak, 43, who flew on a shuttle mission last

summer, mostly kept her head down during the preliminary appearance

in an Orange County, Fla. court, but nodded and said yes a few

times when the judge explained that she was not to have any contact

with the other woman, identified as Colleen Shipman, a captain in

the Air Force, according to media reports.

Nowak, who is a Navy captain working for NASA, was also ordered to

wear a tracking device.

The Orlando police allege that Nowak drove 950 miles from Houston

to Orlando wearing adult diapers used in space and disguised herself in

a dark wig, glasses and trench coat to confront Shipman in the

parking lot of Orlando International Airport, according to a police

affidavit. Nowak considered her a rival for the affections of a

fellow astronaut, Bill Oefelein, according to the affidavit.

The Orlando police said that Nowak followed Shipman to a parking

lot at the airport, where Shipman entered her car. Nowak approached

the car window and tried to open the door. When Shipman would not

open the door, Nowak began to cry, the police said. Shipman cracked

the window, and Nowak sprayed pepper spray into the vehicle.

She later told police, that was stupid, according to the

affidavit.

Nowak felt that she needed to meet with Shipman and discuss the

details of their relationship with the male astronaut, a police

statement said.

Nowak was arrested on Monday and also charged with attempted

vehicle burglary with battery, destruction of evidence and battery.

Her court appearance was broadcast live on television. Stations

displayed file photos of the astronaut smiling broadly in an orange

space suit, juxtaposed alongside the police mug shot of Nowak after

her arrest, her brow furrowed and hair splayed in different

directions.

In court today, her attorney argued that she was an excellent

candidate for pre-trial release because she had no criminal record,

and that he saw no attempt to kidnap, but rather an attempt to

speak to someone in their vehicle.

He said that Nowak had an exemplary record of commitment to her space career and the country,

indicating she could be trusted to return to court and to stay away

from Shipman. One s good works must count for something, he said.

The state attorney said that the facts indicated a well-thought-out

plan to kidnap and perhaps to injure Shipman.

A NASA official told the court that before the incident,

Nowak, who is married with three children, and Shipman were

strangers.

During a check of the parking lot, an officer followed Nowak and

watched her throw away a bag containing the wig and a BB gun. They

also found a steel mallet, a 4-inch folding knife, rubber tubing,

rubber gloves, $600 in cash, love letters all in bags and in her

car, the police said.

During the July shuttle mission last year, Nowak s tasks included

operating a robotic arm. Oefelein served on a mission by space

shuttle Discovery in December.