In an era of viral misinformation and instant online speculation, no event—no matter how carefully engineered or historically significant—is safe from scrutiny. The latest victim? Blue Origin’s all-female space mission, headlined by none other than global pop star Katy Perry. What should have been celebrated as a landmark moment for women in space quickly spiraled into a swirling vortex of conspiracy theories, internet sleuthing, and digital outrage.
The mission, which successfully took Perry and five other high-profile women on a suborbital trip beyond the Kármán line, was hailed as both a technological triumph and a PR masterstroke for Jeff Bezos’ space tourism venture. But not long after the capsule landed, a viral video clip showing a so-called “door gaffe” ignited claims that the entire mission was faked. Theories range from accusations of CGI to bizarre suggestions that the event was a satanic ritual or filmed in a swimming pool.
While the claims are being widely debunked by experts and fact-checkers, the incident raises important questions about the role of social media, the spread of disinformation, and why celebrity space travel seems to magnetize conspiracy narratives. Let’s unpack the facts, the fiction, and everything in between.
The Blue Origin Mission – What Actually Happened?
On a bright morning in April 2025, Blue Origin launched its latest New Shepard flight—an 11-minute suborbital journey that momentarily lifted six women into space. The mission included an all-star passenger list: pop icon Katy Perry, Emmy-winning journalist Gayle King, Amazon executive Lauren Sánchez, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, and two other accomplished women in STEM and media.
The flight reached over 100 kilometers (62 miles) in altitude, crossing the internationally recognized boundary of space known as the Kármán line. The capsule offered its occupants a brief but unforgettable view of Earth from space, a few moments of weightlessness, and a gentle parachute-assisted descent back to the Texas desert.
For Blue Origin, this mission was more than just another launch—it was a carefully curated blend of celebrity appeal and technological showmanship. It aimed to inspire women and girls around the world to dream beyond the atmosphere and to legitimize commercial space travel as something accessible, exciting, and safe.
Who Was on Board?
The Blue Origin NS-27 mission made headlines for its all-female crew—an intentional move to highlight the achievements of women across industries. The passengers included:
- Katy Perry – Global music star and UN ambassador known for her interest in science and tech.
- Lauren Sánchez – Media personality and the fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also leads Bezos Earth Fund.
- Gayle King – Respected CBS journalist and co-anchor of CBS Mornings.
- Aisha Bowe – Former NASA aerospace engineer and founder of STEMBoard.
- Two other prominent women in business and education (less publicly known but equally credentialed).
This high-profile lineup wasn’t just for show. It was carefully chosen to amplify the message that space isn’t just for astronauts anymore—it’s for educators, entertainers, and engineers alike.
The mission was promoted as a celebration of inclusion, technological advancement, and personal courage. But as the internet proved, no good deed goes un-memed.
The “Door Gaffe” That Sparked the Conspiracy
Shortly after footage of the landing was shared across Blue Origin’s social media platforms, a specific clip began to circulate like wildfire. In it, ground crew members approach the capsule to open the door, and there’s a momentary hesitation—what some viewers called “fumbling”—as they work to unlatch the mechanism.
This brief, unremarkable moment became the smoking gun for conspiracy theorists. TikTok users slowed the video down, zoomed in, and added captions suggesting that the door had already been opened—implying the capsule was empty, or worse, that the entire landing sequence had been pre-filmed.
Others chimed in claiming that shadows were inconsistent, the lighting was “too perfect,” or that the astronauts’ body language looked scripted. From there, the internet did what it does best: run wild.
Hashtags like #SpaceHoax, #BlueOriginFake, and #KatyInStudio began trending across platforms, and dozens of amateur “analyses” emerged claiming to prove the mission was staged using CGI or filmed in a Hollywood-style set.
Why Viewers Cried “Fake”
The door gaffe became a Rorschach test for digital doubters. For some, it symbolized a larger belief that big tech, big media, and big money are conspiring to control the narrative. For others, it fed into long-held suspicions about space exploration in general—a skepticism born from the infamous moon landing conspiracies of the 1970s.
Several themes emerged across social media:
- “It looks like a film set” – Critics claimed the lighting and camera angles felt too polished.
- “CGI reflections in the capsule window” – Zoomed-in frames allegedly showed digital anomalies.
- “Where was the crew sweat?” – Some claimed the passengers looked too “glamorous” post-flight.
- Occult symbolism – The most extreme theorists pointed to hand gestures, logos, and colors as evidence of a satanic or “Illuminati” ritual.
While some of these theories are laughably fringe, others have gained surprising traction—largely thanks to influencers and viral content creators monetizing the outrage.
