Latest news with #AstronautClassof2025
NDTV
a day ago
- Science
- NDTV
NASA Reacts After Brazilian Social Media "Astronaut" Claims She's Headed To Space
A Brazilian social media star's claim of becoming a "career astronaut " after alleged NASA training has prompted a sharp correction from the US space agency itself. According to the New York Post, Laysa Peixoto announced earlier this month that she had been picked for a career in space exploration. She claimed that she earned a spot in the coveted "Astronaut Class of 2025" with plans to fly to the Moon and Mars. She also stated that she would be joining the private space company's maiden voyage in 2029, commanded by NASA veteran astronaut Bill McArthur. "I was selected to become a career astronaut, performing on manned spaceflights for private space stations, and future manned missions to the Moon and Mars. I'm officially an astronaut of the Class of 2025 and will be part of the inaugural Titans Space flight," Ms Peixoto claimed on Instagram. "It is a great joy to represent Brazil as an astronaut in such a decisive era of space exploration, that will change history of mankind forever. It's an honor to carry the flag of Brazil with me as the first Brazilian woman to cross that border," she added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LAYSA PEIXOTO (@astrolaysa) However, days after her social media post, complete with pictures of her in a NASA-branded jumpsuit and helmet, NASA issued a firm statement discrediting her claims. NASA clarified that Ms Peixoto is neither an astronaut candidate nor is she affiliated with the space agency. "While we generally do not comment on personnel, this individual is not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate," NASA said, per Daily Mail. The space agency also said the Brazilian woman had taken part in a workshop, L'Space Academy, with NASA that wasn't an internship or a job. "It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation as part of this opportunity," the agency stated. Separately, Titan Space, a private company yet to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for human spaceflight, acknowledged Ms Peixoto's association but confirmed she is not on the official list of astronauts for its 2029 inaugural mission. Amidst this, Ms Peixoto returned to Instagram on Thursday to address NASA and Titans Space statements. She said she never claimed to have been selected by the American space agency, and that she was only wearing a NASA space jacket in the photo. "Maybe many of you didn't get a chance to read what I said when I announced 'I'm going to space,' just the title. The text is available here, and in it, I mention WHO selected me, and I mention that it's a PRIVATE space program," she said. At no time is there a mention of NASA or that she would be an astronaut for the agency. The post was never edited," Ms Peixoto's agent said. However, the New York Post noted that an "edited" label is attached to Ms Peixoto's post, but there is no indication of what had been changed. Ms Peixot's academic background has also been questioned after her now-deleted LinkedIn page claimed she worked at NASA when she was 19, was a fellow at the German nonprofit Max Planck Society, enrolled in an engineering course at MIT and had a master's degree from Columbia University. But Columbia University has reportedly said that there is no record of her. These revelations have further undermined her credibility and fuelled scepticism surrounding her space aspirations.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Glamorous Instagram ‘astronaut', 22, exposed as FAKE after duping 150k followers with pics of her ‘training at Nasa'
She claimed she made into the 'Astronaut Class of 2025' with plans to go to Moon and Mars TO INFAMY & BEYOND Glamorous Instagram 'astronaut', 22, exposed as FAKE after duping 150k followers with pics of her 'training at Nasa' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GLAMOROUS Instagram star who soared to fame by claiming she was an astronaut has been exposed as a fraud by NASA. Laysa Peixoto, known to her 156,000 followers as @AstroLaysa, announced earlier this month she'd been picked for a career in space exploration. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Laysa Peixoto claimed she was a NASA astronaut, but the space agency says she was never part of its program Credit: Newsflash 8 The 22-year-old told her 156k followers she was chosen for missions to the Moon and Mars Credit: instagram 8 Peixoto said she was joining the 'Astronaut Class of 2025' Credit: instagram 8 The Brazilian was only part of a NASA student workshop — not a career track or flight crew Credit: Newsflash The 22-year-old Brazilian claimed she earned a spot in the coveted 'Astronaut Class of 2025' with plans to fly to the Moon and Mars. But just days after her triumphant Instagram reveal - complete with snaps of her in a NASA-branded jumpsuit and helmet - NASA itself came crashing into her orbit with a reality check. The agency said bluntly in a statement: "This individual is not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate. "It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation as part of this opportunity." Peixoto, from the state of Minas Gerais, has told followers she was chosen by private space outfit Titans Space for a 2029 mission led by Veteran NASA astronaut Bill McArthur. She gushed in a post on June 5: "It hasn't fully sunk in yet, but I feel immense gratitude for the entire journey I've taken so far and for everyone who has been and is a part of it." She added: "It is a great joy to represent Brazil as an astronaut in such a decisive era of space exploration… It is an honour to carry the Brazilian flag with me as the first Brazilian woman to cross this frontier." But NASA's no-nonsense response made it clear she had never trained with them and had only participated in a student workshop called L'SPACE - which it described as neither a job nor an internship. Titans Space added to the confusion, confirming she had been accepted into a "candidate programme" - a far cry from a guaranteed seat on a rocket. Fires Up Its Engine and Afterburner During Test Series The company reportedly doesn't even hold a license to conduct manned spaceflights. The programme Peixoto apparently joined is a $1million "Inaugural Astronauts" package promising a five-hour space trip and just three hours of zero gravity. Questions around Peixoto's education also started brewing. She had claimed to be earning a master's in Quantum Physics and Computing at Columbia University in New York City. But the Ivy League school said there's no record of her. 8 In a post, she said: 'It is an honour to carry the Brazilian flag with me...' Credit: Newsflash 8 She was linked to a private $1M 'space experience' by Titans Space Credit: instagram 8 Peixoto also claimed she was studying Quantum Physics at Columbia University Credit: Newsflash Meanwhile, her former university in Brazil confirmed she was dismissed in 2023 for failing to re-enrol. In the aftermath of her post, Peixoto's team said: "At no time is there a mention of NASA, or that it would be an astronaut from the agency. "The post was never edited." But eagled-eyed internet sleuths say otherwise - noting the post was edited and included photos heavy with NASA iconography. The bizarre saga saw the "fake astronaut" at the center of social media jokes. One user quipped on X: 'All I have to say is that anyone who saw a girl wearing a space camp jumpsuit claiming to be a lead astronaut researcher deserves to be fooled, when she's clearly just an ambitious and wealthy person.'
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Glamorous Instagram ‘astronaut', 22, exposed as FAKE after duping 150k followers with pics of her ‘training at Nasa'
A GLAMOROUS Instagram star who soared to fame by claiming she was an astronaut has been exposed as a fraud by NASA. Laysa Peixoto, known to her 156,000 followers as @AstroLaysa, announced earlier this month she'd been picked for a career in space exploration. 8 Laysa Peixoto claimed she was a NASA astronaut, but the space agency says she was never part of its program Credit: Newsflash 8 The 22-year-old told her 156k followers she was chosen for missions to the Moon and Mars Credit: instagram 8 Peixoto said she was joining the 'Astronaut Class of 2025' Credit: instagram 8 The Brazilian was only part of a NASA student workshop — not a career track or flight crew Credit: Newsflash The 22-year-old Brazilian claimed she earned a spot in the coveted 'Astronaut Class of 2025' with plans to fly to the Moon and Mars. But just days after her triumphant Instagram reveal - complete with snaps of her in a NASA-branded jumpsuit and helmet - NASA itself came crashing into her orbit with a reality check. The agency said bluntly in a statement: "This individual is not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate. "It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation as part of this opportunity." Read more world news Peixoto, from the state of Minas Gerais, has told followers she was chosen by private space outfit Titans Space for a 2029 mission led by Veteran NASA astronaut Bill McArthur. She gushed in a post on June 5: "It hasn't fully sunk in yet, but I feel immense gratitude for the entire journey I've taken so far and for everyone who has been and is a part of it." She added: "It is a great joy to represent Brazil as an astronaut in such a decisive era of space exploration… It is an honour to carry the Brazilian flag with me as the first Brazilian woman to cross this frontier." But NASA's no-nonsense response made it clear she had never trained with them and had only participated in a student workshop called L'SPACE - which it described as neither a job nor an internship. Most read in The US Sun Titans Space added to the confusion, confirming she had been accepted into a "candidate programme" - a far cry from a guaranteed seat on a rocket. Fires Up Its Engine and Afterburner During Test Series The company reportedly doesn't even hold a license to conduct manned spaceflights. The programme Peixoto apparently joined is a $1million "Inaugural Astronauts" package promising a five-hour space trip and just three hours of zero gravity. Questions around Peixoto's education also started brewing. She had claimed to be earning a master's in Quantum Physics and Computing at Columbia University in New York City. But the Ivy League school said there's no record of her. 8 In a post, she said: 'It is an honour to carry the Brazilian flag with me...' Credit: Newsflash 8 She was linked to a private $1M 'space experience' by Titans Space Credit: instagram 8 Peixoto also claimed she was studying Quantum Physics at Columbia University Credit: Newsflash Meanwhile, her former university in Brazil confirmed she was dismissed in 2023 for failing to re-enrol. In the aftermath of her post, Peixoto's team said: "At no time is there a mention of NASA, or that it would be an astronaut from the agency. "The post was never edited." But eagled-eyed internet sleuths say otherwise - noting the post was edited and included photos heavy with NASA iconography. The bizarre saga saw the "fake astronaut" at the center of social media jokes. One user quipped on X: 'All I have to say is that anyone who saw a girl wearing a space camp jumpsuit claiming to be a lead astronaut researcher deserves to be fooled, when she's clearly just an ambitious and wealthy person.' 8 After backlash, Peixoto insisted she never claimed to be a NASA astronaut — despite posts showing NASA gear and logos Credit: Newsflash
