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Space Flight Conspiracy Theories Surround Katy Perry’s Blue Origin Trip
Katy Perry’s journey to space aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spacecraft has ignited a flurry of online conspiracy theories since the crew’s return on Monday. Internet skeptics now believe they have unearthed supposed definitive evidence suggesting the entire space mission was an elaborate fabrication. This theory centers around a perceived ‘fake hand’ spotted in images from the New Shepard capsule.
‘Fake Hand’ Image Fuels Blue Origin Hoax Claims
Observant social media users have pointed out what appears to be an artificial hand within the New Shepard capsule, the vessel that transported the all-female crew. On X, formerly Twitter, one user with conspiratorial leanings questioned the authenticity of the Blue Origin “Space Flight” involving Katy Perry.
Surprisingly, these conspiracy theories do contain a kernel of truth, although not in the way proponents believe. The widely circulated image fueling this new wave of speculation does indeed feature a mannequin aboard a New Shepard capsule.
Misinformation Spreads: Image from 2017 Test Flight Misidentified
However, the crucial detail often missed is that this photo originates from the inaugural test flight of the New Shepard Capsule in 2017, predating the NS-31 mission which carried Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez. Despite this discrepancy, the erroneous rumour has rapidly disseminated across social media platforms, with some conspiracy theorists proclaiming ‘Mannequin confirmed,’ as validation of their claims.
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Online conspiracy theorists claim to have identified a ‘fake hand’ on the Blue Origin capsule purportedly carrying Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez to space.
On Monday, Kerianne Flynn, Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Aisha Bowe, Gayle King, and Amanda Nguyen (left to right) journeyed to the edge of space on a Blue Origin New Shepard capsule. However, conspiracy theorists are suggesting the entire event was a staged hoax.
Commentators on X seized upon this image of a hand, interpreting it as evidence of fakery in the Blue Origin mission.
Social Media Reacts to ‘Dummy Hand’
The NS-31 mission launched on Monday at 14:30 BST (08:30 local time) from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas. Aboard were Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, pop icon Katy Perry, CBS Mornings co-anchor Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, activist Amanda Nguyen, and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe.
Despite the well-documented and live-streamed 11-minute suborbital flight, suspicions have arisen concerning the mission’s authenticity. The latest wave of skepticism surfaced with images of a seemingly synthetic hand visible through the New Shepard capsule window, circulating widely online.
Social media users, already questioning the flight’s legitimacy, quickly embraced the ‘fake hand’ as definitive proof of their conspiracy theories. On X, one commentator questioned the “dummy hand” on the Blue Origin capsule. Another remarked on what appeared to be a “mannequin, shiny hand.” Adding to the speculation, one user humorously inquired if it resembled a “Barbie hand or is it Ken’s?”
On social media, individuals already skeptical about the space mission latched onto this new detail.
One online commenter joked that the hand resembled that of a ‘Barbie’ doll.
A conspiracy theorist on X dubbed this the ‘icing on the cake’, suggesting it proved Katy Perry did not genuinely travel to space.
Discrepancies Highlight Image Misidentification
Other commentators correctly observed distinctions between the hand in the viral image and the hands of the NS-31 crew members. One skeptical individual noted the “super LOOSE!” spacesuit in the picture in contrast to the “crazy tight spandex” worn by the crew. Another pointed out differences in the “shiny material” compared to the attire of the NS-31 participants.
For many online conspiracy theorists, this perceived ‘fake hand’ served as the ultimate confirmation that Katy Perry’s space journey was a fabrication. According to these theories, the Blue Origin mission was allegedly staged in a terrestrial film studio, employing CGI to simulate a rocket launch. Some even suggest that mannequins occupied the capsule during the flight, with the actual crew substituted later for publicity.
One conspiracy theorist bluntly speculated about “mannequins” inside the capsule upon landing, replaced by “astrohoes” after cameras were briefly turned off.
However, scrutiny reveals these claims to be unfounded. The ‘fake hand’ conspiracy is easily debunked by examining the image’s true origin.
While conspiracy theorists correctly identified a fake hand, the image used is not from Monday’s launch, but from a 2017 test launch featuring a mannequin on a New Shepard capsule.
Commenters accurately noted differences in the mannequin’s attire compared to the NS-31 crew’s spacesuits from Monday’s mission.
Commenters correctly pointed out that the space suit was “not the same” as it originated from a different launch seven years prior.
Despite evidence to the contrary, conspiracy theorists maintained that the ‘fake’ hand proved Blue Origin launched only mannequins initially, swapping in the all-female crew for a photoshoot afterward.
Image Origin Confirmed as 2017 Test Flight
As many commentators clarified, the ‘fake hand’ photo is not from the Blue Origin NS-31 launch this Monday. It is instead from the December 12, 2017, test flight of New Shepard Crew Capsule 2.0. This test included a mannequin, humorously named ‘Mannequin Skywalker’, whose hand is visible in the viral image. Photos and videos of this 2017 test flight are publicly accessible, and the launch received extensive media coverage at the time.
Even a cursory comparison between the 2017 launch and Katy Perry’s recent flight reveals key differences. The lettering on the 2017 New Shepard capsule is blue, while on the NS-31 crew capsule, it is distinctly black. Furthermore, wider images from the 2017 test flight show only one mannequin onboard, as opposed to the six-person NS-31 crew. Despite the lack of evidence for a hoax, these rumors continue to spread rapidly online.
This image from a different angle of the 2017 test flight clearly shows the mannequin’s hand, which is visible in the viral image.
Capsule Door ‘Gaffe’ Further Fuels Speculation
This ‘fake hand’ theory builds upon earlier speculation sparked by a perceived embarrassing mistake during the capsule’s landing. Footage emerged showing the New Shepard capsule door appearing to open momentarily from the inside just prior to Jeff Bezos dramatically opening it with a tool to greet the crew. This ‘gaffe’ was quickly seized upon by conspiracy theorists as more ‘definitive proof’ of a staged mission.
On X, a skeptical commenter declared this door incident “the nail in the coffin,” labeling the flight “FAKE!”. However, the most plausible explanation is a crew member inadvertently opened the hatch and then quickly closed it to allow Bezos a better photo opportunity. Conspiracy theorists also questioned the inward-opening door and the lack of re-entry burn marks on the capsule, deeming them inconsistent with a genuine spaceflight.
Closer examination reveals obvious differences between the test launch capsule and the one used on Monday. The lettering on the 2017 test flight capsule is blue, whereas the writing on Katy Perry’s capsule (pictured) is black.
The earlier capsule door ‘gaffe’, with the door opening prematurely, sparked a previous wave of online conspiracy theories.
Commentators on X asserted that the door opening from the inside before Jeff Bezos’ planned ‘grand reveal’ proved the space mission was staged.
Suborbital Flight Mechanics Explain Capsule Features
These capsule design features are easily explained by the New Shepard’s suborbital trajectory, barely reaching space. The capsule attained a peak altitude of 66.5 miles (107 km), just surpassing the Karman Line, the recognized boundary of space. At this altitude, while the atmosphere is thin, the capsule is not exposed to the intense vacuum experienced by spacecraft orbiting Earth, such as the International Space Station.
Therefore, New Shepard capsules do not require heavily reinforced outward-opening doors, unlike the Crew Dragon. Furthermore, because of the limited atmospheric re-entry, the capsule does not experience the intense heat and scorching associated with orbital re-entries, such as those encountered by SpaceX Crew Dragon returning from orbit.
Moreover, post the Apollo 1 tragedy, safety protocols mandate that capsules be openable from both interior and exterior. NASA safety regulations explicitly state that “doors shall be operable by a single crew member in no more than 60 seconds, from both sides of the hatch.” Thus, a crew member opening the door from inside, inadvertently disrupting Jeff Bezos’ planned moment, is consistent with safety design and protocol, and not indicative of a hoax.