Astronaut Anne McClain under scrutiny for alleged first space law violation

In a historic turn of events, astronaut Anne McClain, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and a member of NASA since 2013, is currently under investigation for alleged crimes committed aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The New York Times reported the story, detailing the accusations made by McClain's estranged wife, Summer Worden. Worden accused McClain of accessing her bank account while aboard the ISS, a claim that McClain denies.

The investigation was initiated by NASA after Worden filed a complaint with the agency's Office of Inspector General. According to The New York Times' investigation, one of the computers that had recently accessed Worden's account was registered with NASA.

McClain told investigators that she was viewing the account from space to ensure Worden had enough money to pay bills and take care of their son. She never received any indication from Worden that she shouldn't still be able to access the account.

The crimes allegedly committed by McClain include accessing private financial records, a charge that McClain admits to after returning to earth, but denies any wrongdoing.

Mark Sundahl, director of the Global Space Law Center at Cleveland State University, stated that the accusations against McClain are historic, as there had been no known allegation of a crime committed in space before.

The conflict between the two women began when Worden noticed McClain knew intimate details about her spending. If found guilty, McClain would be the first person ever sentenced for a crime committed from space.

However, it's important to note that the allegations against McClain have not been proven in a court of law. McClain's parents are quoted as saying that she was accessing Worden's account as part of a "highly calculated and manipulated campaign" to obtain custody of Worden's son.

The investigation into the case is ongoing. McClain was set to be part of NASA's first all-female spacewalk, but equipment issues and her return to earth delayed the effort.

In a separate development, Worden filed for divorce from McClain in 2018, after McClain accused her of assault. Worden denies the assault accusation, according to The New York Times' investigation.

This story serves as a reminder that even in the vastness of space, human conflicts can still occur. As the investigation continues, the world waits to see how this historic case will unfold.