In a dramatic conclusion to a sensational legal battle, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer admitted she lied to federal agents when she accused her then-partner—an astronaut with NASA—of committing the first criminal act in space by hacking her bank account while aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Her plea brings closure to a case that blurred the boundaries between marital conflict, outer-space operations and financial impropriety.
Allegation Ignited Global Headlines
In 2019, during a contentious separation and custody dispute, the accused filed complaints alleging that the astronaut had illegally accessed a shared bank account while on a six-month mission in orbit. The claim triggered investigations by the Federal Trade Commission and NASA’s Office of Inspector General into what was touted as a potential “crime in space”.
Authorities later determined the claim was unfounded: the bank account had been jointly accessible by both spouses for years, and the astronaut had maintained full permission to log in.
Guilty Plea and Consequences
On November 13, 2025, the former intelligence officer – aged 50 and residing in Kansas – formally pled guilty to making materially false statements to federal investigators. Under her plea agreement:
- She faces sentencing scheduled for February 12, 2026.
- The maximum penalty includes up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
- Multiple other charges, including wire-fraud counts, were dropped in exchange for her plea.
Meanwhile the astronaut has emerged from this controversy uncharged and continues her professional career.
Implications for Space Law & Public Trust
This case raises significant questions about legal frameworks in outer space and the interplay of personal grievances with sophisticated technology. It underscores how private disputes can escalate when one party operates in orbit and how complex asset management becomes when shared accounts and mission duties overlap.
For NASA and its partners, the episode is a reminder that astronaut assignments, marital relationships and financial transparency are increasingly interconnected in the age of frequent human spaceflight.
