2025-06-12T13:37:43Z

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A glamorous Instagram influencer, 22-year-old Laysa Peixoto, who garnered a following of 156,000 under the handle @AstroLaysa, has recently come under fire for making fraudulent claims about her status as a NASA astronaut. Peixoto had announced earlier this month that she was selected for the prestigious ‘Astronaut Class of 2025’, implying she would embark on missions to the Moon and Mars. However, NASA quickly intervened to clarify that she was, in fact, not affiliated with their organization at all.

In her posts, Peixoto showcased herself in a NASA-branded jumpsuit and helmet, exuding confidence about her journey in space exploration. She expressed her excitement in a June 5 Instagram post, stating, “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 proudly mentioned her desire to represent Brazil as she ventured into space, adding, “It is an honor to carry the Brazilian flag with me as the first Brazilian woman to cross this frontier.”

Yet, just a few days after her announcement, NASA released a stark statement, clarifying, “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.” This statement left many of her followers and the public shocked, realizing that Peixoto’s claims were far from the truth.

Peixoto’s claims included being selected by a private company, Titans Space, for a mission in 2029, which would be led by veteran NASA astronaut Bill McArthur. However, NASA's statement emphasized that Peixoto had only participated in a student workshop known as L'SPACE, which does not equate to any formal role or training within NASA. This workshop is designed for students and is not a job or internship opportunity.

To add to the confusion, Titans Space confirmed Peixoto’s acceptance into a so-called “candidate programme,” which turned out to be vastly different from an actual mission assignment. The company, which reportedly lacks a license for conducting manned spaceflights, offers a $1 million “Inaugural Astronauts” package that promises a mere five-hour space trip, with only three hours spent in zero-gravity—far less than the thrilling adventures Peixoto had led her followers to believe.

Moreover, questions regarding Peixoto’s educational background emerged. She had claimed to be pursuing a master's degree in Quantum Physics and Computing from Columbia University in New York City. However, Columbia officials informed Brazilian media outlet Metropoles that they had no record of her enrollment. Additionally, her former university in Brazil confirmed that she was dismissed in 2023 due to failure to re-enroll.

In response to the growing controversy, Peixoto’s publicist issued a press release attempting to clarify her statements on Instagram. The release stated, “In the announcement made on Instagram, the only statement given so far (June 11), having not checked any interview so far, Laysa explains that she was selected as an astronaut by the private company Titans Space.” The publicist emphasized that Peixoto never explicitly claimed to be a NASA astronaut. However, many internet users noticed that her original post contained heavy NASA branding and imagery, leading them to question the authenticity of her claims.

The situation has sparked a flurry of social media commentary, with users poking fun at Peixoto's claims. One comment on the platform X humorously remarked, “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.”