An astronaut has been accused by her estranged wife of accessing her bank account – from the International Space Station (ISS).

Anne McClain acknowledges that she accessed the account while aboard the ISS but denies any wrongdoing, the New York Times reports.

But her wife, Summer Worden, an Air Force intelligence officer, has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Ms McClain told the New York Times she was simply ensuring the family finances were in order and that there was enough money to pay the bills and to take care of Ms Worden’s son.

“She strenuously denies that she did anything improper,” her lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said.

The pair married in 2014 and Ms Worden filed for divorce in 2018. Ms McClain, a graduate of the West Point military academy, flew in excess of 800 hours over Iraq as an Army pilot before qualifying as a test pilot and being chosen to fly for Nasa in 2013.

In space, people are beholden to the law of their country.