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.
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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.
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