Latest news with #NASA-branded
Time of India
a day 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
- 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.
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
Express Tribune
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Katy Perry faces backlash over dance moves during Lifetimes Tour kickoff in Mexico City
Katy Perry has drawn widespread mockery online after videos of her choreography from the opening night of her Lifetimes Tour in Mexico City went viral. According to The Independent, the 40-year-old singer's performance included robot-style dance moves while singing her song 'Part of Me,' sparking criticism across social media. In clips circulated on TikTok, Perry, wearing a futuristic cone bra and thigh-high boots, performed stylised robotic movements before dropping to the floor and lifting one leg mid-song. Commenters described the choreography as "shockingly bad" and compared the performance to a "school talent show," questioning both the dance quality and the use of dual microphones. Some viewers also mocked ticket prices, suggesting fans paid heavily for what they considered a poor show. Criticism included comments like, 'And paid good money for this... show,' and "I just wanna know who choreographed this." The show also featured Perry flying over the audience on a wire and addressing previous backlash related to her recent Blue Origin spaceflight. On stage, she posed with two fans wearing NASA-branded suits, joking about her "current timeline." Earlier this month, Perry had joined a Blue Origin space trip alongside Lauren Sánchez, Gayle King, Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, and Kerianne Flynn. The brief 11-minute flight attracted criticism from figures including Emily Ratajkowski and Olivia Wilde, who labelled it a marketing stunt. Despite the widespread criticism, Perry appeared unfazed, later sharing a light-hearted Instagram post of a packed school lunch she prepared for her daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom, whom she shares with actor Orlando Bloom. Perry's tour marks her return to global touring after several years, but her performances and public appearances continue to fuel debate among fans and critics alike.
