Astronaut’s Ex-Wife Pleads Guilty to Falsely Reporting Crime in Space

HOUSTON — Summer Heather Worden, 50, pleaded guilty on Nov. 13 to lying to law enforcement about her ex-wife, NASA astronaut Anna McClain, allegedly committing a crime while in space. Worden had claimed that McClain illegally accessed her bank account while stationed on the International Space Station in 2019.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Worden reported in July 2019 that McClain had guessed her password and accessed her account without permission. Worden’s allegation was reportedly the first accusation of a crime committed in space.

An investigation by NASA’s Office of the Inspector General found that Worden opened the bank account in April 2018 and both she and McClain had access to it until January 2019. The Justice Department stated that Worden had provided McClain with access to her bank records from at least 2015.

McClain claimed that her actions were authorized, stating, “I had access to her accounts to manage our finances with her full knowledge.” However, this did not deter Worden from filing complaints that claimed McClain had performed identity theft.

The allegations surfaced during a tumultuous time for the couple, who were navigating a divorce and a custody battle over their son. Their divorce was finalized in January 2020.

Worden now faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. She is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2026.

Meanwhile, McClain is set to return to the International Space Station in March 2025 as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission.