A NASA astronaut’s estranged wife, Summer Worden, has pleaded guilty to making false allegations of a crime that she claimed was committed in space. Prosecutors confirmed that Worden, a former Air Force intelligence officer, falsely accused her estranged husband, Anne McClain, of accessing her bank account while he was stationed at the International Space Station in 2019. The case, which initially sparked widespread media attention, drew the attention of the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Inspector General.
Worden is now facing up to five years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 in relation to the false reports. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas revealed that Worden had actually opened the account in April 2018 and had accessed it with McClain until January 2019 when she changed the credentials. The court has scheduled a sentencing hearing for Worden on February 12, 2026, with her currently under bond pending the hearing.
The initial allegations, which were the first of their kind in space, generated significant interest and prompted investigations from various agencies. Anne McClain, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran who joined NASA in 2013, returned to the International Space Station in March as commander of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission. Worden and McClain divorced in January 2020, according to KSDK. The case highlights the complexities of personal relationships and the ethical responsibilities of individuals in high-profile positions.