US prosecutors charged an astronaut today with trying to kidnap a romantic rival, but they declined to file an attempted murder charge against her that had been recommended by police.

A Nasa astronaut accused of trying to harm a romantic rival has entered a written plea of not guilty to a charge of attempted murder, according to court records.

The arrest of an astronaut on an attempted murder charge has not distracted the crew of an upcoming space shuttle mission, even though she had been scheduled to be part of the flight’s ground team, the shuttle’s commander said.

A former Nasa flight surgeon said today the woman astronaut accused of trying to kidnap and murder a love rival had suffered “mental anguish”.

Nasa is reviewing its psychological screening process in the aftermath of allegations that a female astronaut plotted to kidnap and kill a love rival, it announced tonight.