A Brazilian social media personality is facing criticism from NASA after asserting that she was selected as an astronaut for upcoming missions to the Moon and Mars.
Laysa Paysot, known for her NASA-branded content, announced her space-bound journey while standing in a Manhattan building near the Empire State Building on June 5.
“I’ve become an astronaut and was chosen for manned spaceflights on private space stations, including future missions to the Moon and Mars,” she stated on Instagram. “I’m officially an astronaut in the class of 2025 and will be participating in my first Titan spaceflight.”
She mentioned her involvement in the private space venture, Maiden Voyage, scheduled for 2029, headed by former NASA astronaut Bill MacArthur.
Paysot has described herself as Brazil’s first female astronaut and boasts an impressive following of 154,000. “It’s an immense joy to represent Brazil at such a pivotal time in space exploration. Carrying the Brazilian flag as the first woman to cross that boundary is an honor,” she expressed.
Brazilian Marcos Pontes previously made history as the first Brazilian in space, traveling to the International Space Station in March 2006, and he has completed NASA’s astronaut training program.
Paysot is reportedly selected as a career astronaut for Titans Space, even though NASA typically only selects American citizens for such titles.
An April press release indicated that the inaugural flight for Titans Space would include MacArthur and other members, but Paysot was not listed among them. Her team contends that she is indeed part of the mission despite the outdated details.
“The Titans Space website is outdated, and representatives have confirmed Raysa’s involvement in the company,” her agents stated.
Titans Space is promoting a program referred to as the “First Astronaut” initiative, which offers a million-dollar opportunity or an open invitation. This program includes a five-hour journey on a spacecraft, featuring three hours of zero gravity.
However, Titans Space does not have the necessary license for manned spaceflights, according to various reports.
NASA has dismissed any claims of Paysot’s participation in future missions, stating, “We generally do not comment on personnel matters, but this individual is not a candidate for NASA employment, principal investigator, or astronaut.”
The Brazilian space agency has noted that Paysot participated in the Last Space Academy workshop, which is not an actual internship or job. They added that it would be inappropriate to suggest a NASA connection regarding this opportunity.
Paysot returned to Instagram to clarify her statements, emphasizing that she never claimed to be chosen by NASA, pointing out that she simply wore a NASA jacket in the post. “Perhaps many of you haven’t had the chance to read what I actually said during the announcement, ‘I’m going to space.’ It’s all about the title,” she remarked.
Her Instagram post is labeled as “edited,” but it’s unclear what changes were made.
Questions surrounding Paysot’s educational credentials have also emerged, particularly regarding claims that she worked for NASA at the age of 19. Reports indicate she studied at the Federal University of Minas Gerais before transferring to a university in Manhattan, now in the Bronx.
