Latest news with #LaysaPeixoto
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
All you need to know about the Brazilian woman NASA fact-checked over viral mars and moon mission claims
A viral Instagram post by Brazilian influencer Laysa Peixoto claiming she had been selected as a "career astronaut" for future Moon and Mars missions has drawn sharp criticism—and an official denial—from NASA. On June 5, Peixoto shared a photo of herself in NASA-branded attire with the New York City skyline in the background, declaring she was part of the astronaut class of 2025 and had completed astronaut training in 2022. She also claimed she was joining a 2029 spaceflight led by former NASA astronaut Bill McArthur through private firm Titan Space. The post garnered over 83,000 likes and positioned her as Brazil's first female astronaut, but NASA quickly discredited her claims. In a public statement, the agency clarified that Peixoto is 'not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate,' and that her only involvement was a student workshop, not formal employment or training. 'It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation,' the agency added. Further questions arose around Peixoto's academic credentials. The Federal University of Minas Gerais confirmed she was dismissed in 2023, while Columbia University denied she had ever enrolled, contradicting her claim of pursuing a master's in quantum computing. Her since-deleted LinkedIn also listed unverifiable affiliations with NASA, MIT, and Germany's Max Planck Society. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like After 35 Years, Her Jewelry Is Nearly Gone The Heritage Journal Read More Undo Titan Space initially acknowledged her but later clarified she is not listed among the astronauts for its planned 2029 mission. The company, which lacks FAA approval for human spaceflight, offers commercial flights for a fee or by invitation. Their official press release did not include Peixoto's name, and no further details of her involvement have been made public. Following the backlash, Peixoto's team released a statement insisting she never claimed NASA selected her, but evidence later showed her Instagram post had been edited. Her case serves as a cautionary tale about self-promotion in the age of social media, where inflated claims can quickly collide with institutional standards and public accountability. Live Events
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'I am going to space': NASA debunks viral influencer's astronaut claim. Here is what really happened
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 ) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads NASA Fires Back: 'Not One of Us' Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Titans Space: A Dream Deferred? More Questions than Answers Pitfalls of the Social Media Space Race Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 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 the euphoria was 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 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 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. 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 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 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 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.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Laysa Peixoto, Brazilian content creator who lied about going to space with NASA?
Who doesn't dream of exploring the enigmatic world of space? Every human is fascinated with the world different from the one we know and while not most of us would want to board a ship to go see it, many make it their lifelong dream. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Laysa Peixoto, a Brazilian social media celebrity turned many heads when she claimed that she had been selected as the future astronaut for private missions to the Moon and Mars by . However now, the content creator has faced a huge backlash from none other than the administration itself. What did she claim and did she really lie about being a NASA astronaut? Let's find out. Going to Space with NASA! Image credits: X/@BHeMeupais Standing inside a Manhattan building with the iconic Empire State Building behind her back, Laysa Peixoto, adorning a NASA jacket revealed on June 5 that she was "going to space". '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,' she claimed on Instagram. 'I'm officially an astronaut of the Class of 2025 and will be part of the inaugural Titans Space flight.' She claimed that she would be joining the private space company's debut voyage in 2029, commanded by Bill McArthur, a veteran NASA astronaut. The tech influencer who has a following of 154,000 followers also added that she is Brazil's first female astronaut. '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,' Peixoto added. 'It's an honor to carry the flag of Brazil with me as the first Brazilian woman to cross that border.' She claimed to be selected as a career astronaut at Titans Space for which NASA can select only American citizens. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Additionally, an April press release about the flight included the mentions of McArthur along with three other members, namely, Chris Sembroski, Dr. Mindy Howard and Vaseema Hussain among other people. There was no mention of Peixoto. However, her team claimed that she is a part of the mission and that the details are outdated.'The Titans Space website is out of date, information confirmed by Titans Space representative, who also confirmed Laysa's entry into the company's formation,' Peixoto's agent told Brazilian newspaper O Tempo. NASA denies Laysa Peixoto's participation in any mission? Image credits: X/@TheSilvaOne Titans Space has a program that offers a 5-hour journey aboard the company's space plane and three hours in zero gravity. Candidates can join the "Inaugural Astronauts" program for either an open invitation or $1 million. However, according to The Sun, the company does not hold a license to conduct manned space flights. NASA has denied Peixoto's participation in any upcoming missions with the agency. 'While we generally do not comment on personnel, this individual is not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate,' said NASA, according to the Daily Mail. They added that Peixoto had participated in a workshop at L'Space Academy with NASA that wasn't an internship or job. 'It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation as part of this opportunity,' the agency stated. Peixoto clarified her claims again saying that she never claimed to be selected by NASA. '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.' Additionally, now even the influencer's educational background is being questioned as in her now-deleted LinkedIn page she mentioned she worked at NASA at the age of 19, was a fellow at Max Planck Society, a German non-profit, enrolled in an engineering course at MIT and had a Master's Degree from Columbia University, as per CNN Brazil.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Glamorous social media ‘astronaut' faces NASA backlash after claiming she was picked to head to Space
A Brazilian social media star is facing backlash from NASA after she claimed she was selected as a future astronaut for private missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA jacket-wearing content creator Laysa Peixoto revealed that she was 'going to space' as she stood inside a Manhattan skyscraper with the Empire State Building behind her on June 5. '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,' she claimed on Instagram. 'I'm officially an astronaut of the Class of 2025 and will be part of the inaugural Titans Space flight.' 5 Laysa Peixoto poses for a photo wearing a NASA Space Camp flight suit. Instagram/astrolaysa Peixoto claimed she would be joining the private space company's maiden voyage in 2029, commanded by NASA veteran astronaut Bill McArthur. The glamorous tech influencer, who boasts 154,000 followers, says she is Brazil's first female astronaut. '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,' Peixoto added. 'It's an honor to carry the flag of Brazil with me as the first Brazilian woman to cross that border.' Only one Brazilian man, Marcos Pontes, has been to space. Pontes made the historic trip to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz TMA-8 in March 2006. He is also the only Brazil-born man to complete NASA's astronaut training program. 5 Peixoto wears a NASA jacket during a photo shoot in NYC, she used to announce her acceptance to the Titans Space program. Instagram/astrolaysa Peixoto was selected to be a career astronaut at Titans Space. Only American citizens can be selected for the same title at NASA. An April press release states Titans Space's inaugural flight would include McArthur and three other members – Chris Sembroski, Dr. Mindy Howard and Vaseema Hussain among other talented individuals. There was no mention of Peixoto, but her team claims she is a part of the mission squad and the details are outdated. 'The Titans Space website is out of date, information confirmed by Titans Space representative, who also confirmed Laysa's entry into the company's formation,' Peixoto's agent told Brazilian newspaper O Tempo. 5 Peixoto was selected to be a career astronaut at Titans Space. Instagram/astrolaysa Titans Space offers candidates the opportunity to join its 'Inaugural Astronauts' program for $1 million or an open invitation. The program advertises a five-hour space journey aboard the company's Spaceplane and three hours in zero gravity. Titans Space does not hold a license to conduct manned space flights, the US Sun reported. NASA has denied Peixoto's participation in any upcoming missions with the agency. 'While we generally do not comment on personnel, this individual is not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate,' NASA said, according to the Daily Mail. 5 The glamorous tech influencer, who has 154,000 followers, says she is Brazil's first female astronaut. Instagram/astrolaysa The government space agency said Peixoto 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 said. Peixoto returned to Instagram on Thursday to address NASA and Titans Space statements, saying she never claimed to have been selected by the American space agency, having only worn a NASA jacket in the post. '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.' 5 The government space agency said Peixoto had taken part in a workshop, L'Space Academy, with NASA that wasn't an internship or a job. Instagram/astrolaysa 'At no time is there a mention of NASA, or that she would be an astronaut for the agency. The post was never edited,' Peixoto's agent told O Tempo. An 'edited' label is attached to Peixoto's post, but there is no indication of what had been changed. The Post has reached out to NASA and Titans Space for comment. Peixoto's educational 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 non-profit Max Planck Society, enrolled in an engineering course at MIT and had a Master's Degree from Columbia University, according to CNN Brazil She studied at Brazil's Federal University of Minas Gerais before transferring to Manhattan College, now Manhattan University, in the Bronx, O Tempo reported.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
NASA gives reality check to woman who claimed to be an astronaut in a viral Instagram post
A Brazilian woman's claim of becoming a 'career astronaut' after alleged NASA training has sparked controversy and a sharp correction from NASA itself. Laysa Peixoto , 23, took to Instagram to announce her supposed selection for future Moon and Mars missions of NASA. She claimed that she was part of the astronaut class of 2025. The now-viral post paired with images of her in NASA-branded attire has gained widespread attention. In response to her post, NASA issued a firm public statement, saying Peixoto is neither an astronaut candidate nor is she affiliated with the agency. NASA has effectively discredited her claims. Instagram post that drew sharp response from NASA On June 5, Peixoto posted a photo of herself wearing a NASA shirt against the New York City skyline. In her caption, she declared she had completed astronaut training in 2022 and was selected to fly future missions to the Moon and Mars. She further claimed to be joining a 2029 spaceflight by private company Titan Space, led by veteran NASA astronaut Bill McArthur. The post received over 83,000 likes and positioned her as the first Brazilian woman selected for space missions which stirred excitement and curiosity across social media. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo NASA responds firmly NASA swiftly addressed the claims, stating Peixoto is 'not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate.' They clarified that her only involvement was in a student workshop and that she held no formal position or title within the agency. 'It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation as part of this opportunity,' the agency stated in a message to the Daily Mail and dismissed any implication of an official astronaut status. Education and career claims questioned Further investigation revealed discrepancies in Peixoto's academic background. The Federal University of Minas Gerais confirmed she was dismissed in 2023 after failing to register for the semester. Additionally, Peixoto claimed she was enrolled in a quantum computing master's program at Columbia University, but the Ivy League school reported no records of her attendance. These revelations further undermined her credibility and fuelled skepticism surrounding her space aspirations. Titan Space confirms, then clarifies Titan Space, a private company yet to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for human spaceflight had acknowledged Peixoto's association but confirmed she is not on the official list of astronauts for its 2029 inaugural mission. The company has not clarified the nature of her role, if any, and remains largely silent on the extent of her involvement beyond a general mention in Brazilian media. Peixoto's team issues clarification after backlash Amid growing criticism, Peixoto's publicist released a statement asserting that she never claimed to be a NASA astronaut. According to the statement, her Instagram post referred only to her selection by Titan Space, and the reference to NASA was in relation to McArthur, the mission's commander. They also argued that the original post had not been edited. It is a claim later contradicted by evidence that the post had indeed been modified. A cautionary tale for Instagram influencers This incident highlights the growing tension between self-promotion and institutional integrity in the social media age. NASA's prompt and public response underscores its commitment to maintaining credibility and accuracy in astronaut representation. Meanwhile, Peixoto's story serves as a reminder that in the world of science and space, titles like 'astronaut' come with rigorous qualifications — not just social media influence and also not to grab attention by any means.
