A NASA astronaut’s estranged wife has pleaded guilty to fabricating claims that her ex-husband committed the first crime in space, according to prosecutors. The case involved allegations that the astronaut, Anne McClain, illegally accessed her bank account while stationed on the International Space Station in 2019. It has now been revealed that the allegations were not based on any wrongdoing by the astronaut, but rather a misinterpretation of the couple’s shared access to the bank account. Summer Worden, the estranged wife, faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 for her actions. The case initially sparked a federal investigation by the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Inspector General, which were launched in response to the false claims.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the investigation found that Worden had opened the bank account in April 2018, and both parties had accessed it until January 2019 when she changed the credentials. The couple had access to the account from as early as 2015, with Worden having granted her spouse access to her login information. The case has since been clarified to show that the astronaut’s actions were within the scope of their shared access and did not constitute a crime. The initial claim by Worden, which she made in July 2019, was described as a case that generated widespread attention around the idea of a crime committed in space, but has since been deemed incorrect. Worden and McClain were married at some point, but they divorced in January 2020, as reported by KSDK.
McClain, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran, joined NASA in 2013 and has since become one of the agency’s most experienced astronauts. She returned to the International Space Station in March as the commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission. The case highlights the complexities of personal relationships during high-profile careers and underscores the consequences of fabricating accusations against a public figure. The sentencing for Worden is scheduled for February 12, 2026, and she is currently on bond pending the hearing.