Former astronaut, Lisa Nowak pleaded guilty today to a lesser charge in an Orange County court and was sentenced to one year’s probation for the bizarre attack on a romantic rival in 2007.
Nowak had driven over 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando and attacked her romantic rival Colleen Shipman with pepper spray in a parking lot at the Orlando International Airport. Shipman was able to drive away after Nowak failed to get into her car.
Shipman had begun to date Nowak’s love interest, former space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein, and this could have sparked the attack.
A judge ordered Nowak to write a letter of apology to Shipman and to stay away from her.
Nowak could have faced life in prison if she was convicted on the more serious charges, including attempted kidnapping.
