American female astronaut accused of committing crime in space

Astronaut Anne McClain. Photo:Tass.

Summer Worden, a former US Air Force intelligence officer in Kansas, married astronaut Anne McClain in 2014 and filed for divorce in 2018, but the divorce proceedings have not been finalized. US media reported on August 23 that Worden filed a complaint with the US Federal Trade Commission, accusing McClain of identity theft and unauthorized access to her bank account while the astronaut was at the International Space Station (ISS) from December 2018 to June 2019.

McClain, 40, admitted she accessed the bank account from space, using a computer system registered with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The astronaut explained that she went to check the account to make sure Worden had money to pay bills and take care of their 6-year-old adopted child. McClain said Worden still used the password from when they were together.

"I was shocked at her brazenness, that she thought she could sneak in without being detected. I was devastated that my privacy had been invaded," Worden said. Worden's parents sent a letter to the NASA Office of Inspector General to report the incident.

NASA is investigating the allegations and has contacted both parties. This is believed to be the first allegation of a crime committed in outer space. Worden and McClain's divorce is expected to be finalized in October.

The ISS is a complex of structures launched into space with the cooperation of 5 space agencies from the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada. These 5 parties have agreed on a legal framework that citizens and property of each country are subject to the laws of that country. For example, if a Canadian citizen commits a crime in space, they will be prosecuted under Canadian law.

McClain, who was born in Washington, graduated from the United States Military Academy (commonly known as West Point) and flew more than 800 hours over Iraq as an Army pilot, was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 2013.