Steamy e-mails from US astronaut case released

ORLANDO, Florida, Mar 8 (Reuters) Astronaut Lisa Nowak was fired by NASA, little more than a month after she was arrested on charges that she tried to kidnap a woman she regarded as romantic rival for the affections of a space shuttle pilot.

NASA said the decision to terminate Nowak from the astronaut corps was by ''mutual agreement'' between the space agency and the Navy, where she is still an active duty officer.

The bizarre incident that led to Nowak's arrest on February 6 so stunned NASA that it announced it would review its screening process for the highly competitive and prestigious astronaut program.

NASA said it ''lacks the administrative means to deal appropriately with the criminal charges pending against Nowak'' and that her next assignment would come from the Navy, which had assigned her to the space agency.

A spokeswoman for Nowak, Cari Brunelle, said NASA's decision ''was anticipated.'' Reuters BDP DS1105