Summer Heather Worden, the former spouse of NASA astronaut Anne McClain, has admitted to lying to federal investigators after previously accusing McClain of committing what she described as the first crime in outer space. The false allegation prompted a high-profile investigation involving multiple federal agencies.
Worden, 50, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer from Sedgwick County, Kansas, entered a guilty plea on November 13, according to federal prosecutors. She had claimed that McClain accessed her personal bank account without permission while aboard the International Space Station in July 2019.
Federal authorities later determined that Worden’s claims were untrue. Investigators found she had opened the bank account in 2018 and had shared access with McClain for years, including login details dating back to at least 2015. Records showed both individuals used the account until early 2019, when Worden changed the password.
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The former couple married in 2014 and finalized their divorce in 2020 after a contentious separation marked by legal disputes, including a custody battle involving their young son. The accusations against McClain were made during this turbulent period, sparking inquiries from NASA’s inspector general and federal investigators. McClain, a decorated Army officer and experienced astronaut, was fully cleared of wrongdoing.
Worden now faces serious consequences for providing false information to federal authorities. She is scheduled to be sentenced on February 12, 2026, and could receive up to five years in federal prison along with a potential fine of up to $250,000. She will remain free on bond until her sentencing date.
