A former Air Force intelligence officer has confessed to creating a false story about her estranged spouse, a NASA astronaut, accessing her bank account from space. The fabricated claim led to a significant investigation and briefly raised concerns about the first alleged crime committed in outer space. Summer Worden, aged 50, has pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents after accusing her ex-wife, NASA astronaut Anne McClain, of identity theft while on the International Space Station.
Prosecutors have revealed that the accusation, which gained global attention, was entirely unfounded. Worden now potentially faces up to five years in prison and a £190,000 fine. According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Worden falsely claimed that McClain had guessed her password and accessed her bank account from space in January 2019.
The sensational allegation triggered investigations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and NASA’s Office of Inspector General. However, it was found that Worden had authorized McClain’s access to the account in 2015 due to their joint financial commitments. Additionally, discrepancies emerged regarding the account’s opening date and password change, undermining Worden’s accusation.
In April 2020, an indictment revealed that Worden had provided false information to the FTC and NASA’s oversight body. Worden argued that she had mistakenly given incorrect dates to investigators, later rectifying her statements, insisting she had not misrepresented any facts.
Prosecutors contended that Worden intentionally misled authorities and that the evidence contradicted her story. The couple had used the account for family expenses during their marriage. McClain informed investigators that she had regularly accessed the account while in a relationship with Worden and continued to do so post-separation with Worden’s knowledge.
Worden had established a personal account in 2018 as the marriage deteriorated and accused McClain of accessing it in January 2019. However, investigations concluded that the accusation was baseless and that Worden had purposely provided false information to federal officials.
Their legal dispute was complicated by a contentious custody battle over Worden’s six-year-old son, born via surrogacy before their relationship. McClain sought shared parenting rights in 2018, citing Worden’s volatile behavior and financial decisions, aiming to formalize her parental role.
McClain clarified to investigators that she accessed the bank account to ensure the child’s well-being amid escalating tensions. In response, Worden criticized McClain for viewing the account during their divorce and custody conflict.
Despite launching to space as commander of NASA’s Crew-10 mission and returning in August, McClain was ultimately cleared of any misconduct. Worden, currently out on bond, will be sentenced on February 12 next year.
What was once anticipated as a groundbreaking case in extraterrestrial law now serves as a poignant reminder of how a domestic disagreement escalated into an international spectacle.
