'I am going to space': NASA debunks viral influencer's astronaut claim. Here is what really happened

Time of India

19 hours ago

Social media star Laysa Peixoto declared she was Brazil's first female astronaut, set to fly with Titans Space. NASA quickly denied any connection, stating she isn't part of its astronaut program. Her claims of studying at Columbia were also debunked. The controversy raises questions about influencer credibility in the age of viral ambitions and blurred truths.
Brazilian influencer Laysa Peixoto claimed she was selected as an astronaut for private missions to the Moon and Mars, sparking viral excitement. However, NASA refuted any affiliation, clarifying she only attended a student workshop. The private firm Titans Space later supported her claim, though doubts remain over her education, legitimacy, and the company's capacity for manned flights. (Screenshot: Instagram/ astrolaysa )
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It began with a sky-high announcement framed by the Manhattan skyline. On June 5, Laysa Peixoto — a Brazilian tech influencer with over 150,000 Instagram followers — declared she had been selected as an astronaut, set to embark on manned missions to private space stations and even to the Moon and Mars. Clad in a NASA jacket, standing tall against the Empire State Building, she captioned her post with pride and awe: 'I'm officially an astronaut of the Class of 2025 and will be part of the inaugural Titans Space flight.'The news went viral, triggering a surge of congratulatory messages and patriotic pride. Peixoto, 22, positioned herself as Brazil's first female astronaut, set to follow in the footsteps of Marcos Pontes, the only Brazilian to travel to space so far.But the euphoria was short-lived.Shortly after Peixoto's announcement, NASA issued a firm statement that abruptly grounded the narrative. As reported by the Daily Mail, the American space agency confirmed that Peixoto was not a NASA employee, astronaut candidate, or affiliate in any formal capacity.'While we generally do not comment on personnel, this individual is not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate,' NASA stated. They clarified that Peixoto had participated in L'Space Academy, a student workshop sponsored by NASA, which is not equivalent to an internship or employment.'It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation as part of this opportunity,' the agency emphasized.According to Peixoto, her selection came not from NASA, but from Titans Space, a private spaceflight company that plans to launch its first human mission in 2029. She claimed she would fly alongside veteran NASA astronaut Bill McArthur and other notable crew members.However, things grew murkier when journalists and internet sleuths noticed that Peixoto's name was missing from the company's April press release listing the crew. A spokesperson for Titans Space told Brazilian newspaper O Tempo that their website was outdated and confirmed Peixoto's inclusion. Still, skepticism remained, especially given that Titans Space does not hold a license to conduct manned spaceflights, as reported by The U.S. Sun.Adding to the intrigue, Titans Space offers a $1 million "Inaugural Astronauts" program, which includes a five-hour flight and three hours of zero gravity. Critics pointed out the distinction between being accepted into a candidate program and being guaranteed a seat on a rocket.The story spiraled further when Metropoles, a Brazilian outlet, contacted Columbia University in New York — where Peixoto had claimed she was pursuing a master's degree in Quantum Physics and Computing. The university responded that there was no record of her. Her former university in Brazil confirmed she had been dismissed in 2023 for failure to re-enroll.Peixoto's team, in damage control mode, released a press statement reiterating that the post did not claim any official affiliation with NASA. 'At no time is there a mention of NASA, or that she would be an astronaut for the agency,' the statement read. 'The post was never edited.'Yet, screenshots and post metadata told a different story — the post had indeed been edited, and images prominently featured NASA branding, fueling the narrative of implied association.Peixoto returned to Instagram to defend her statement, accusing critics of reading only the headline and not the caption, which she said clearly identified Titans Space as the selector.'I challenge those questioning my authenticity to read carefully,' she wrote. 'This is a private initiative. My dream is real.'Her case underscores a broader tension between aspiration and accountability in the influencer age. Social media offers an unmatched platform to tell your story — but the line between storytelling and misleading is razor-thin, especially when that story involves one of the most exclusive job titles on Earth: astronaut.