Kansas Woman Admits She Lied About Astronaut Ex-Wife Hacking Her Bank Account From Space
KANSAS — A Kansas woman who once claimed her NASA astronaut ex-wife hacked her bank account from the International Space Station has now pleaded guilty — confirming that the bizarre accusation at the center of a national scandal was a complete fabrication.
Summer Worden, a former Air Force intelligence officer, admitted in court that she lied to federal investigators when she accused astronaut Anne McClain of committing identity theft while orbiting Earth. The stunning case, once hyped as the “first crime in space,” has now unraveled into a story of deception, fraud, and a custody battle gone nuclear.
She Claimed Her Astronaut Ex Reset Her Bank Password From Space
Worden originally filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2019, alleging that McClain had illegally accessed her bank account during a six-month mission aboard the ISS.
She accused McClain — one of NASA’s most accomplished astronauts — of:
- Guessing her password
- Accessing her financial accounts
- Committing identity theft while literally in orbit
But investigators quickly uncovered the truth: Worden had not changed her login credentials when she said she did.
In reality, she didn’t reset anything until months later, making it impossible for McClain to have “hacked” the account in the way Worden claimed.
McClain publicly denied the allegations, calling them false and deeply damaging.
The Lies Continued: Another Complaint Filed With NASA Inspectors
Worden didn’t stop with the FTC.
Prosecutors said she also made a second false statement to the NASA Office of Inspector General in July 2019, repeating her accusation that McClain accessed her bank account illegally.
But investigators found no evidence of criminal activity — only evidence that Worden’s claims were untrue.
Worden Was Facing Years in Prison and Hundreds of Thousands in Fines
Worden initially faced:
- Up to five years in prison per charge
- Fines of up to $250,000
- A superseding indictment with five counts of wire fraud
- Three counts of unlawful financial transactions
- Allegations of scamming eight people (including McClain) out of over $200,000 in a land deal
According to prosecutors, the fraud charges stemmed from an alleged 2017 land purchase scheme that targeted multiple victims.
But after pleading guilty to lying to a federal agent, the government agreed to drop the remaining charges.
She will still have to pay restitution to the victims of the land-deal scheme.
She Still Faces Up to Five Years in Prison
Despite the plea agreement, Worden could still be sentenced to up to five years behind bars.
For now, she remains free on bond while awaiting sentencing on February 12.
The case — once sensationalized as a historic “space crime” — has now become a cautionary tale about false accusations, broken relationships, and a custody battle that spiraled into federal court.
What do you think — should she serve prison time for the accusations and fraud, or is the plea deal enough? Share your thoughts and join the conversation at Chicagomusicguide.com.