A NASA astronaut’s estranged wife, Summer Worden, has pleaded guilty to a lie that sparked claims of the first crime committed in space. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced that Worden confessed to fabricating allegations against her ex-spouse, Anne McClain, who was stationed on the International Space Station at the time.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Worden claimed in July 2019 that McClain had guessed her bank account password and illegally accessed it while she was in space. The investigation, however, uncovered that Worden had created the account in 2018 and had access to it with McClain until at least 2015. Now, Worden faces a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Her false report prompted the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Inspector General to investigate the incident, which initially received widespread attention as the first crime allegedly committed in space. The case highlights the complexities of personal relationships with individuals in high-profile positions and the potential for misinformation in such situations.
Worden, a decorated Air Force intelligence officer, and McClain, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran, had a tumultuous marriage. They divorced in January 2020, according to KSDK. McClain, who joined NASA in 2013, returned to the International Space Station in March as commander of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission. The incident raises questions about the security of personal financial data and how it can be misused, especially when one party has access to sensitive information.
Prosecutors announced that Worden’s sentencing will take place on February 12, 2026, and that she is currently on bond pending the hearing. This case underscores the importance of transparency and the consequences of spreading false information, particularly when it involves individuals in the public eye.