To Infinity and Beyond International Law: The First Space Crime
By Rebeccah Richards When James T. Kirk (Chris Pine edition)
settling
violates the prime directive, he is stripped of
ensuring enough money was in the accounts
his
command title and demoted. When
to take care of their son. Worden, on the
Darth Vader uses his Death Star to inflict
other hand, took instant action by filing a
mass destruction, his genocidal actions are
complaint with both the Federal Trade
met with swift action from the rebel alliance.
Commission and NASA’s Office of Inspector
But when a NASA astronaut is accused of
General. Her accusations stand as identity
identity theft and improper access of bank
theft and improper access to private
accounts
financial records.
while
stationed
aboard
the
post-separation
finances
and
International Space Station (ISS) - what action is to be taken? What ‘space law’ do
But regardless of what McClain’s intentions
we turn to?
were, what is the next step in determining this ‘space law’ issue? Is there even an
‘The First Space Crime’
existing ‘space law’ to guide us? The
In August 2019, NASA astronaut Anne
accusations raise a major international law
McClain was accused of accessing the bank
issue. If found guilty, McClain will be the first
account of her former spouse, Summer
person in history to be sentenced for a crime
Worden, from the ISS. In the midst of their
committed in space - the very first ‘space
separation and a custody dispute for their
crime’.
son, Worden noticed McClain appeared to know details of her spending. Worden,
What ‘space law’ do we turn to?
being an ex-intelligence officer, sought
There are currently six treaties that form the
answers as to how her former partner came
basis of ‘space law’ as it stands today. The
to know such private details. She requested
primary of these is the Intergovernmental
the locations of where her accounts had
Agreement
been accessed. It was no coincidence that a
Cooperation, signed at Washington in 1998.
computer
National
Agencies of the ISS, the US, Canada, Japan,
Administration,
Russia and several European countries are
Aeronautics
registered and
to
Space
the
(IGA)
on
Space
Station
better known as NASA, was detected.
the signatories to this treaty. Under Article 1,
McClain claims she is not guilty of any
the object and scope of the treaty centres on
wrongdoing. She claims she was simply
establishment of a long-term international
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