(CNN)  -- A former NASA astronaut accused of assaulting a romantic rival at a Florida airport can take off her electronic tracking bracelet while she awaits trial, a judge ruled Thursday. Attorneys for former astronaut Lisa Nowak said her ankle bracelet was uncomfortable and inconvenient. The bracelet was uncomfortable, inconvenient and cost Lisa Nowak $105 a week, her attorneys argued. Those reasons alone weren't enough to order the monitor removed, Orange County Circuit Court Judge Marc Lubet said in his ruling. He said the monitoring device was not fulfilling its purpose. Although the alleged victim, Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman, testified earlier this month that she remains afraid of Nowak and wants the monitor to remain, Shipman "chose to travel to the defendant's hometown of Houston, Texas, on three or four occasions ... to visit her boyfriend" since the incident, Lubet wrote.
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Former astronaut Lisa Nowak can remove ankle monitoring device, judge says
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Judge says device not fulfilling its purpose
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Nowak is accused of assaulting and attempting to kidnap romantic rival
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Nowak's attorneys have filed a notice of intent to rely on an insanity defense
"It's a great relief not to worry about safety issues related to the batteries' life while I'm driving," @placeholder said in the statement.