So the saga of the jealous astronaut has reached its end. For now.

Those who haven’t been following the tale of space travel, broken hearts and pepper spray a quick recap: Ex-astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested in February 2007 at Orlando International Airport where she had apparently driven from Florida (some reports insinuating she wore nappies to allow her to drive without stopping, a charge which she denied) to accost the woman she perceived to be her love rival, Colleen Shipman, who had just landed there. Shipman was having a relationship with Nowak’s ex, another astronaut Bill Oefelein. Nowak was reported as attacking Shipman with pepper spray, whilst in disguise (Central Florida News).

Nowak was arrested on charges of attempted kidnapping and battery, and the ensuing trial has just concluded.

Nowak has escaped imprisonment – she has already served two days. Instead, after pleading guilty to two lesser charges of burglary of a car and misdemeanor battery (Guardian, Chicago Tribune, NPR) Nowak was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to write a “sincere” letter of apology. Boy, would I like to see that letter.

The case raised questions about the mental strain astronauts are put under, and the screening processes that NASA employs when picking the people to encase in a tiny metal capsule and send off into space for weeks at a time (see “Can psychologists help NASA" (subscription required) and “Nowak trial postponed”).

But what we all want to know now is: who has the film rights to the saga, and which Hollywood A-listers will play each part? Suggestion on a postcard please…