In a dramatic turn of events that brings closure to a sensational saga blending space exploration and personal vendetta, Summer Worden, the ex-wife of NASA astronaut Anne McClain, has pleaded guilty to fabricating claims of the first crime committed in outer space. This plea, entered on November 13, 2025, marks the end of a bitter legal dispute that captivated headlines worldwide since 2019.
Anne McClain, a highly decorated U.S. Army colonel and West Point graduate, joined NASA in 2013 and has since become one of the agency’s prominent figures. With over 2,000 flight hours as an aviator, she served on the International Space Station (ISS) from December 2018 to June 2019. It was during this mission that the allegations surfaced.
McClain and Worden, a former Air Force intelligence officer, were in the midst of a contentious divorce. Worden filed for divorce in 2018 after McClain accused her of assault – a charge that was later dismissed by a Missouri court. Their separation was acrimonious, involving custody battles over their child and intertwined finances.
In July 2019, Worden reported to federal authorities that McClain had illegally accessed her private bank account from the ISS in January of that year. She claimed McClain guessed her password and committed identity theft, dubbing it the first crime in space. This sparked investigations by the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Office of the Inspector General, drawing global media attention due to its unprecedented nature.
McClain immediately denied the accusations, stating on social media that she had accessed the account with Worden’s permission to manage their joint finances during the separation. She emphasized that the couple had shared financial details for years.
Federal probes revealed a different story. Investigators found that Worden had opened the bank account in April 2018, and both parties had access until January 2019. Records showed Worden had provided McClain with login credentials as far back as 2015, contradicting her claims of unauthorized access.
In April 2020, Worden was indicted for lying to federal agents about the account’s opening date and credential changes. McClain was fully cleared of any wrongdoing, allowing her to continue her career, including commanding NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the ISS in March 2025, where she conducted spacewalks and returned in August.
On November 13, 2025, Worden, now 50, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to law enforcement. She admitted to intentionally misleading investigators and the media. Worden remains on bond and faces up to five years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Her sentencing is scheduled for February 12, 2026.
In a statement following the plea, McClain expressed relief: “Ms. Worden intentionally, and with full knowledge of the truth, presented a story to federal investigators and to the media with the intention of harm. From the outset, there was no evidence supporting her claims, and overwhelming evidence disproving them. As I continue my public service, I remain committed to the values that have defined my career and which held up under the closest scrutiny.”
For McClain, this resolution caps a challenging period that tested her professional resilience. Despite the ordeal, she has continued to excel, participating in historic missions and advocating for space exploration.
This case highlights the intersection of personal conflicts and public life, especially in high-stakes fields like astronautics. What began as a headline-grabbing “space crime” has ended as a cautionary tale about false accusations, reminding us that even in orbit, earthly dramas can have far-reaching consequences.
