Summer Worden, the estranged wife of NASA astronaut Anne McClain, has pled guilty to lying to law enforcement over what was allegedly the first crime committed in space. According to prosecutors, the false allegations stemmed from a domestic dispute rather than any criminal act taking place in orbit. Worden now faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
The incident originally sparked widespread media attention when it was claimed that McClain had accessed Worden’s bank account while on the International Space Station in 2019. However, an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas revealed that both parties had accessed the account prior to the alleged incident. Worden had opened the account in April 2018, and both individuals had access until January 2019 when she changed her credentials. The review also confirmed that Worden had granted her estranged spouse access to her bank records from at least 2015, including her login credentials.
McClain, a decorated West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran who joined NASA in 2013, returned to the International Space Station in March 2025 as commander of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission. The case, which initially gained traction as the first alleged crime committed in space, was further complicated by the involvement of the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Inspector General. Reports indicate that the initial claim led to heightened scrutiny of NASA’s protocols and handling of such incidents.
Worden, a decorated intelligence officer in the Air Force, and McClain were divorced in January 2020. Prosecutors noted that a judge will sentence Worden on Feb. 12, 2026, and that she is currently on bond pending that hearing. Despite the seriousness of the case, the outcome underscores the importance of accurate reporting and the distinction between fictional allegations and factual evidence in the context of high-profile individuals.