“Houston - we have a problem!”

In normal circumstances the story of Lisa Nowak being charged with the attempted murder, attempted kidnapping and three other crimes stemming from what police described as a love triangle, would be somewhat sad, but not that remarkable. Also the fact that neighbours had recently heard “...the sounds of dishes being thrown” in Nowak's home, was possibly an early indication that all was not well in Nowak's life. But then again who hasn't been the thrower (or throwee) of a few plates from time to time?

What is slightly more concerning about the story is the fact that it could quite easily, and literally, have been “out of this world”, and could have taken place on the Space Shuttle.

Nowak, an astronaut, attempted to kill Colleen Shipman, another astronaut who she believed was a rival for the affections of William Oefelein who - wait for it - was also an astronaut.
So imagine the scene - Nowak, Shipman and Oefelein are all aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. After a long period of radio silence, Oefelein communicates with the NASA Space Centre.

“Houston - we have a problem [beep]. I haven't seen Colleen for a while [beep]. Yeah, Lisa's OK, but she appears to have cut herself as she's got some blood on her suit [beep]. Anything else unusual? Well, now you come to mention it, I did hear what sounded like dishes being thrown earlier on [beep]. Is there anything you haven't told me Houston? [BEEP!]....