A NASA astronaut’s estranged wife has pleaded guilty to making false allegations about a crime committed in space, marking the first reported case of such an allegation. Summer Worden, the wife of astronaut Anne McClain, admitted to lying to law enforcement in 2019, claiming her ex-spouse had accessed her bank account while he was on the International Space Station. Prosecutors say Worden faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for her actions. The case, which initially drew attention from the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Inspector General, has now been resolved with a guilty plea from Worden.
The initial claim made by Worden – which was the first allegation of a crime in space – generated inquiries from the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Inspector General, the New York Times reported. The newspaper described Worden as a decorated intelligence officer in the Air Force. It added that 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. Prosecutors said a judge will sentence Worden on Feb. 12, 2026, and that she is allowed to remain on bond pending that hearing. The case has underscored the legal implications of private actions that could be perceived as involving space activities, even if they occur on Earth. It also highlights the potential for personal disputes to intersect with high-profile scientific endeavors involving space exploration.