11 Nov 2009

Ex-astronaut gets probation for attacking rival in love

10:44 pm on 11 November 2009

A court in the United States has sentenced a former American astronaut to a year of probation for attacking a romantic rival two years ago.

The BBC reports Lisa Nowak, 46, pleaded guilty to lesser charges after being accused of pepper-spraying and trying to kidnap the other woman.

The victim had begun dating the man Nowak loved, former NASA space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein.

Police say Nowak, who flew on the space shuttle Discovery, wore nappies to avoid bathroom breaks while driving 1600 km from Texas to Florida to confront her rival.