Nowak was once hailed as the ideal American woman, according to NASA’s records. After graduating from the Naval Academy, she became a fighter pilot and was selected by NASA in 1996 as part of its astronaut program. In 2006, she served as a mission flight engineer on the Space Shuttle Discovery, operating the robotic arm for several spacewalks during a 13-day mission.

In 1988, Nowak married Richard T. Nowak, a U.S. Navy engineer. The couple had three children: one son and twin daughters, according to People. Their family was seen as a strong support system for her, though Nowak, often busy with her career, left much of the parenting to her husband. “She was someone who had to work a lot and had to be away from the kids a lot and dump everything on her husband and not see him very much, and I think it pushed them apart,” said Diane Fanning as quoted by the New York Postauthor of “Out There,” a 2007 book about Nowak’s life and downfall.

In the years that followed, Nowak became involved with fellow astronaut William Oefelein. The two had grown close during a training mission for surviving in extreme cold temperatures. However, as Nowak’s marriage faltered and her career path became uncertain, she received devastating news in 2007: Oefelein had fallen for Colleen Shipman, and he was ending their relationship.

When Oefelein publicly began dating Air Force officer Shipman, Nowak’s jealousy and heartbreak drove her to extreme actions. According to The Guardianon Feb. 5, 2007, in a fit of rage, Nowak drove nearly 1,500 km from Houston, Texas, to Orlando, Florida, carrying a trench coat, wig, pepper spray, a BB gun, rope, trash bags, and an 8-inch knife. In a detail that captured widespread attention, police reports indicated she had space diapers with her to avoid bathroom breaks during the drive.

In the parking lot of Orlando International Airport, Nowak approached Shipman’s car. She banged on the window and begged for a ride. When Shipman rolled down the window, Nowak sprayed her with pepper spray and attempted to enter the vehicle. Shipman managed to flee the scene, shaken but unharmed. Police arrested Nowak on charges of attempted murder and kidnapping.

Prior to the attack, a jealous Nowak had secretly entered Oefelein’s apartment and read private emails exchanged between him and Shipman. She also made multiple calls to him every day, unable to let go of the relationship, as reported by Unilad Tech.

The incident became widely known as the “Astronaut Love Triangle”. It was a dramatic fall from grace for a woman who had spent much of her life dreaming of becoming one of the few women to journey to space, and had achieved that goal just a year earlier, the New York Post reported.

Nowak faced serious consequences. In 2008, she divorced her husband, Richard. In 2009, she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and burglary after the charges were reduced. During her court hearing, she expressed remorse, saying she was “sincerely sorry” for her actions and promised never to contact Oefelein again. She was sentenced to a year of probation. In 2010, Nowak received an “other than honorable discharge” from the Navy.

The case quickly garnered worldwide media attention. Bill and Colleen, under immense pressure, married in 2010, moved to Alaska, and had a son. Colleen became an author, publishing her debut novel in 2015 under the pen name C.M. McCoy. She also ran a website encouraging children to write.

Now, at 62, Nowak is believed to live quietly in Texas. Her children are all grown, and a representative told People that Nowak “is finally at peace and living a quiet life.”