NASA investigates what could be the first crime committed in space

A divorce between two women in the United States has taken on spatial dimensions. An astronaut was accused of identity theft and irregular access to the financial records of his ex-wife of the International Space Station (ISS) where he was on a six-month mission. Thus, NASA is investigating what could be the first crime committed in space.

Summer Worden, former partner of astronaut Anne Summer, has filed suit this year with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), an independent agency, after realizing that there is accessed your bank account Without your permission The two women are fighting over the custody of their six-year-old son.

The Worden family has also filed a complaint with NASA's general inspectorate, according to the US newspaper. The New York Times.

McClain, meanwhile, used his Twitter account to defend himself. In a tweet, the astronaut said that he had done nothing illegal and that he had permission to access this account.

"There is nothing in these accusations, we are going through a period of painful personal separation which unfortunately is now in the media. I appreciate the support that I have received and I reserve any comments until the end of the investigation. I have full confidence in the process of the Office of Inspector General, "he explained.

For McClain's lawyer, his client did not commit any crime and accessed his bank records while on board the ISS to monitor the situation. joint account of the coupleas he did during their relationship.

Researchers from the US Space Agency contacted both women. Worden said the FTC had not reacted to the identity theft, but a NASA specialist investigator and general inspectorate looked at the charge, according to the newspaper local.

After highlighting the achievements of McClain's career, NASA made it clear that he was not commenting on personal problems: "Lieutenant-Colonel Anne McClain has developed a military career, piloted combat missions in Iraq and one of the most important astronauts of NASA. He performed very well on his last mission to the International Space Station. As with all NASA workers, the agency does not comment on personal issues. "

McClain joined the NASA astronaut program in 2013 and spent 204 days in space during his last mission, between December 2018 and June 2019, with Expedition 58/59. In the mission, he made two walks in space.