February 6, 2007 - 2:50PM

In a dark wig, glasses and a trench coat, US space shuttle astronaut Lisa Nowak drove 12 hours wearing nappies so she would not need to stop, then waited in hiding for a woman she considered a rival for another astronaut's affections and tried to kidnap her, police in Orlando say.

Nowak, 43, was arrested on charges including battery and attempted kidnapping, an Orlando police affidavit said.

She told police she drove from Houston to the Orlando International Airport to confront Colleen Shipman, whom Nowak considered a rival for the attentions of fellow astronaut Bill Oefelein, the affidavit said.

The Age