How a Bitter Divorce Battle on Earth Led to Claims of a Crime in Space – The New York Times

Ms. McClain, meanwhile, was gaining national attention for another reason. NASA was promoting the coming milestone of an all-female spacewalk, with Ms. McClain set to do work outside the space station with her fellow astronaut Christina Koch. But in a sudden switch a few days before the spacewalk, NASA scrapped Ms. McCain’s role, explaining that there were not enough suits available in the two women’s size.

“Saturday Night Live” skewered the agency, with the actress Aidy Bryant portraying a disappointed Ms. McClain with her dreams crushed by poor NASA planning.

A NASA spokeswoman, Megan Sumner, said the decision about the spacewalk was not influenced by any allegations about Ms. McClain. Ms. Sumner declined to comment about the other issues raised by Ms. Worden.

In the days before Ms. McClain returned from space in June, Ms. Worden’s parents sent a lengthy letter to NASA’s Office of Inspector General, outlining what they described as Ms. McClain’s “highly calculated and manipulative campaign” to win custody of the child. In the letter, they included the allegation of the bank account intrusion.

In recent days, Michael Mataya, an investigator specializing in criminal cases with NASA’s Office of Inspector General, and another official have been exploring the issue, said Ms. Worden and her mother. Mr. Mataya declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman. The trade commission has not responded to the identity theft report, Ms. Worden said.

The domestic dispute in space may be the first such investigation, but it is unlikely that it will be the last.

“The more we go out there and spend time out there,” Mr. Sundahl said, “all the things we do here are going to happen in space.”