Unprecedent Incident of Crime in Space

Ms. Anne McClain, who was a part of six-month mission aboard the International Space Station is accused of identity theft and improperly accessing her estranged wife, Summer Worden, a former Air Force intelligence officer’s bank account.

The accusation is that McClain took the advantage of ISS’s internet connection and accessed partner’s account as they were separating. In contrast, McClain has denied any wrongdoing, arguing that she was simply overseeing their intertwined money arrangements.

NASA’s Office of Inspector General is in process of investigating the matter that whether one of the astronauts committed a crime while in orbit.

The case is unprecedent as it is the first incident of a crime being committed in space. It has brought world space laws to spotlight, which is an unpopular stream of law around the world and has brought to notice the fact that what has to be done when a crime its committed in the outer space.

For now, National laws are applicable on the person in space, so American laws wil be applicable in this dispute.

McClain, who returned to earth in June, gained fame as she was one of the two women selected for first all-female historic spacewalk, but the plan was dropped in March due to unavoidable risky contingencies. 

This incident deviated attention towards requirement of more elaborate and stringent world space laws which will be required to regulate outside the scope of earth as space missions and trips are booming and will only increase in future.

By-

Tanishka Grover

Chair, Reporters’ Committee, INBA