Could the first crime have taken place in space?
US astronaut Anne McClain may have accessed her ex-wife's account from a PC on the ISS space station. Nasa is now investigating what could possibly be the first crime committed in space.
The divorce war between Anne McClain, a space traveller stationed on the ISS, and Summer Worden, a former Air Force intelligence officer and McClain's ex-wife, seems to have spilled over into space. The astronaut is accused of checking her ex-partner's financial data online and without her knowledge - in space. What sounds like a trifle could possibly be the very first crime in space.
To infinity...
Worden was astonished when she realised that someone had gained unauthorised access to her bank account. Because of her Air Force background, she became suspicious, pulled some strings and quickly found out that the access must have come from a Nasa computer. After that, it was easy to track down the culprit - or, as in this case, the culprit: her ex-wife, astronaut Anne McClain.
McClain defended herself, saying she just wanted to make sure Worden handled her assets responsibly and took proper care of her son. The child was born before McClain and Worden's relationship. Worden, however, said that these were just excuses and accused her ex-wife of identity theft. Incidentally, McClain did not withdraw or transfer any money from the account.
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When Worden realised that it must have been McClain who had rummaged around in her account, she and her family involved the FTA - the Federal Transit Administration - and the Inspector General of Nasa in the case. Projectors from the relevant authorities have since contacted both parties and are investigating the possible offence. If McClain has indeed acted illegally, this would be the first known case of criminality in space.
In the case of a crime committed in space, the jurisdiction provides that the accused is subject to the law of his or her country of origin. If an American commits a crime, she must answer to the American court. A German would have to appear before German lawyers. There is currently no special regulation for outer space or transnational legislation in this regard.
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