Summer Worden, the estranged wife of NASA astronaut Anne McClain, has pleaded guilty to making false allegations about a crime committed in space. This case is notable as it was the first alleged crime to occur in space, prompting investigations from the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Inspector General.
The alleged crime involved Worden claiming her husband accessed her bank account while he was aboard the International Space Station. However, the investigation revealed that Worden had actually opened the account in 2018 and had both parties accessing it until 2019, with Worden changing the credentials in January 2019. The case highlights the complexities of digital security and the potential for misinterpretation of digital activity, as well as the serious consequences of making false accusations.
Worden, a decorated intelligence officer in the Air Force, was previously married to McClain, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran who joined NASA in 2013. McClain returned to the International Space Station in March as commander of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission. The couple 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.