Nasa is reviewing its psychological screening process after allegations that a female astronaut plotted to kidnap and kill a love rival.

Lisa Nowak, who was arrested this week, has been removed from flight status. She was charged with attempted murder after driving 900 miles to confront engineer Colleen Shipman over a perceived love triangle with a space shuttle pilot.

Nowak had a BB gun, a steel mallet, a knife, rubber tubing and latex gloves in her car. She wore nappies on the trip from Houston to Orlando in Florida to cut out toilet breaks.

Nasa said the mum-of-three, who recently split from her husband, had been in line for an upcoming shuttle mission and in July spent 13 days in space on the shuttle Discovery.

A spokesman at the Houston space centre said there had been no previous "indications of concern".

Possible recommendations could be issued as early as June but officials would not say if Nowak's arrest meant the end of her Nasa career.

She has been released on £8000 bail.