NASA Astronaut’s Estranged Wife Admits to Fabricating Space Crime Allegations
In a case that initially sparked international attention as the first alleged crime committed in space, Summer Worden, an Air Force intelligence officer, has pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement over her estranged husband’s alleged financial misconduct while he was stationed aboard the International Space Station.
The case, which began in 2019, involved Worden’s claim that NASA astronaut Anne McClain had accessed her bank account using a guess at her password while McClain was conducting her duties at the International Space Station. However, prosecutors revealed that Worden had actually opened the account in 2018 and had given her husband access to it as early as 2015, including her login credentials. The case became a significant point of public interest and prompted investigations from the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Inspector General.
Worden, a decorated officer in the Air Force, is now facing up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The charges stemmed from her false report to law enforcement, which was first alleged to be the first crime committed in space. This case has not only raised legal and ethical questions but also sparked a broader conversation about the complexities of personal relationships and the legal implications of such cases involving space agencies and astronauts.
Judge Elizabeth A. Smith, who is presiding over Worden’s case, will sentence her on February 12, 2026. Worden has been on bond pending her sentencing, and she has not yet filed any motions or appeals. The case also underscores the potential for personal disputes to have significant public and legal consequences, particularly when they involve the space sector and high-profile individuals like NASA astronauts.