Last week, the crew at the International Space Station underwent a change as Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who had been stranded in space for over nine months, finally returned to Earth along with an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut.
They were replaced by Crew-10, which was launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The mission was commanded by astronaut Anne McClain, who, during her previous mission in 2019, became the first person in history suspected of committing a crime in outer space after her ex-partner alleged that McClain accessed her bank account from space. Upon McClain's return to Earth, it was revealed that the allegation was false, and her ex-wife, Summer Worden, even faced charges related to the incident.
Anne McClain, 45, was born in Spokane, Washington. She served for years as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of colonel. She participated in operations in Iraq, logging 800 hours in 216 combat missions. Later, she trained pilots and became a test pilot, accumulating over 2,000 flight hours in 20 different types of aircraft and helicopters during her military service, receiving several commendations for her service. Simultaneously, she was also a player on the U.S. rugby team.
In 2013, McClain joined NASA's astronaut training program and completed her training in July 2015. On December 3, 2018, she embarked on her first mission to space as a flight engineer aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. During her stay, she was set to make history by participating in the first all-female spacewalk alongside Christina Koch. However, due to the availability of only a medium-sized spacesuit at the station, the crew was ultimately changed to include a male astronaut instead. After spending 204 days in space, McClain returned to Earth.
In January 2019, Summer Worden complained that her bank account was accessed without her permission from a computer network affiliated with NASA while McClain was at the International Space Station. A few weeks later, in August 2019, the situation escalated as NASA opened an investigation into the allegation that McClain accessed her ex-wife's bank account during her mission. The New York Times reported that this was likely the first instance of a crime allegedly committed in outer space.
McClain admitted to accessing her ex-wife's bank account while at the International Space Station but denied any wrongdoing. Through her lawyer, she emphasized that she was managing finances that were still shared by the couple.
Worden lodged a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Additionally, a family member of Worden filed a complaint, accusing McClain of identity theft and illegally accessing Worden's financial and private documents.
The investigation brought Worden out of the closet. She and McClain married in 2014, and LGBTQ media identified McClain as a lesbian, following her career. However, McClain had not officially disclosed this in NASA publications. The investigation changed the dynamics, making her the first openly lesbian astronaut (the fact that Sally Ride was a lesbian was revealed only after her death).
McClain's lawyer firmly rejected the allegations against her, claiming she accessed the bank account to ensure there were no financial issues and that sufficient funds were available to pay bills and support Worden's son. According to McClain, she was unaware that Worden requested she no longer access the bank account.
After several months of investigation, it emerged that Worden, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, had indeed authorized McClain's access to the account while she was at the space station. This was during a period when the two were separated, and they officially divorced only after McClain returned to Earth in January 2020. The investigation against McClain was closed, and ultimately, Worden was the one prosecuted.
Astronaut Anne McClain from the International Space Station
“They’re trying to send me to prison for five years, which is the penalty, because I mistakenly recalled when I filed this FTC report that I had opened the account in September 2018,” Worden told CNN in an interview. “But in fact, it was April. Then I went back and I made them aware of that.”
In April 2020, CNN reported that initially, Worden told investigators she opened a private bank account in September 2018 and changed the login details so that a third party could not access them. However, according to the indictment, Worden opened the account in April 2018 and did not change her password and login details until January 2019—meaning McClain accessed the account with permission, not by breaking in, as she had the password.
The indictment stated that Worden made two false statements: she filed a false complaint with the FTC on March 19, 2019, and made a false statement during an interview with NASA's Office of Inspector General on July 22 of that year. Worden indicated that she recalled the wrong date regarding when she opened the account when filing her first complaint with the FTC.
Worden claimed that she also updated NASA about the mistake in the dates. The incident slipped under the radar, and according to several reports in the U.S., it was decided to close the investigation against Worden.
As for McClain, she continued her service at NASA, and in 2020 it was announced that she was among the 18 astronauts selected for the Artemis program. This means she could potentially become the first woman to walk on the moon in a few years. As of now, she has not been assigned to the Artemis mission that is set to orbit the moon—potentially later this year.
From 2020 until the end of 2023, when she was assigned to command the Crew-10 mission, McClain participated in advanced training programs at NASA, focusing on preparing astronauts for long-duration missions in deep space. This training included complex simulations that mimicked real space conditions, physical and intellectual training and preparation for various scenarios in future missions. McClain worked closely with experts in various fields, including engineers, scientists and doctors, to enhance her skills and prepare for the challenges expected in deep space missions.
Additionally, McClain played a central role in developing and testing new technologies aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of crewed missions. She collaborated with engineering and science teams to evaluate life support systems, navigation and communication technologies and solutions to address medical challenges in space. Her contributions advanced technologies that would enable long-duration missions and extended stays in space.
McClain dedicated significant time to outreach and education activities, aiming to encourage young people to pursue careers in STEM fields. She participated in educational events, conferences and television programs, sharing her personal experiences as an astronaut and a U.S. military officer. McClain emphasized the importance of teamwork, perseverance and meticulous preparation, becoming a role model for many.
Realizing a childhood dream, McClain returned for her second mission to the International Space Station. Before the launch, she released a short video expressing that she had dreamed of going to space since the age of three. She stated that no one in her family discouraged her, which allowed her to achieve her goal. McClain spoke about the numerous challenges at the space station, the scientific experiments conducted by astronauts and the significance of the mission beyond Earth.
Later, she also spoke with reporters, but at no point was the "space crime" mentioned. "Missions in space are not simple," McClain told reporters. "They are incredibly complex, requiring a large team of people doing work that often goes unappreciated."
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She noted that even in her second mission, she was appointed to command the spacecraft, and it is possible she will receive command of the International Space Station during her stay in space. "Everything I know about leadership, flying and teamwork, I learned in the military," McClain said. "This experience has been significant in learning how to lead by identifying and maximizing the contributions of each of my team members. One leader cannot do everything alone—these missions are too complex."
McClain also joked in a conversation before the launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, saying, "I am excited, grateful and proud to serve as the crew commander for this mission. My background in the military is in combat helicopters, so this time we will fly faster than I am used to."
When away from space
While McClain has largely kept her personal life private, she has remained active in community and educational initiatives. She has mentored aspiring scientists and participated in outreach programs, while also receiving honorary degrees from universities nationwide. A Houston resident, she has also been spotted at local baseball games, maintaining a visible, if low-key, public presence.
Over the years, several astronauts have bent the rules, though incidents within NASA have typically resulted in disciplinary action rather than criminal charges. One of the most memorable episodes occurred in 1965, when astronaut John Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich aboard the Gemini 3 mission and offered it to crewmate Gus Grissom mid-flight. The sandwich had been purchased in Florida by another astronaut and given to Young as a surprise for Grissom.
Though the gesture was lighthearted, NASA was not amused. The incident drew criticism from Congress and the media, and Young received a formal reprimand. Despite the controversy, his career with the space agency was unaffected.