Conspiracy Theorists Claim Blue Origin Door Fake, Insist Katy Perry Launch Staged

Katy Perry’s Blue Origin Space Flight Sparks Bizarre Conspiracy Theories About “Fake” Capsule Door
[Image 1: Katy Perry and crew exiting the Blue Origin capsule after landing]

Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez’s 11-minute journey to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket has ignited wild conspiracy theories, with skeptics claiming the mission was staged. The latest focus? A viral TikTok video alleging the capsule’s door was “fake.”

The “Evidence” Goes Viral
A TikTok post by user bigbadjohn954 comparing pre-launch and post-landing photos of the capsule door has garnered over 11,000 likes. The video claims a gold frame and bolts visible before liftoff mysteriously vanished after landing, fueling claims of a hoax. Commenters speculated the door was swapped or the mission faked “on purpose.”

[Image 2: Side-by-side images of the capsule door before launch (with gold frame) and after landing (without)]
Caption: Conspiracy theorists claim the door’s gold frame and bolts “disappeared” post-flight.

Debunking the Claims
However, closer inspection reveals simple explanations. The gold frame labeled “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT” was detached before the hatch closed, as seen in Blue Origin’s livestream. The bolts, meanwhile, remain visible in clearer footage but are hard to spot in blurry screenshots.

[Image 3: Close-up of the “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT” sign on the gold frame]
Caption: The removable panel was taken off pre-launch, debunking the “vanishing” theory.

Social media users fact-checking the claims noted:

• “The bolts are still there—check the livestream at 1:49:14.”
• “Lighting and image quality made the holes hard to see post-landing.”

Previous Conspiracies: From “Fake Hands” to NASA Funding Jabs
This isn’t the first wild theory. Earlier, conspiracy theorists circulated a 2017 test launch image of a mannequin’s hand (nicknamed “Mannequin Skywalker”) to falsely claim the recent mission used props. Others joked NASA should lose funding over the “hoax.”

[Image 4: 2017 test launch image showing a mannequin’s hand in the capsule]
Caption: A 2017 test image was misrepresented as “proof” of a staged mission.

Why Do Conspiracy Theories Thrive?
Experts suggest such theories often emerge from a need for control or clarity during uncertain events. The Blue Origin mission, involving celebrities and billionaires, became a ripe target for speculation.

The Mission at a Glance

• Passengers: Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, CBS’s Gayle King, activist Amanda Nguyen, and others.
• Journey: Reached 62 miles altitude (the Kármán line, space’s boundary) in 11 minutes.
• Reusable Tech: The booster landed vertically post-launch; the capsule parachuted back.

[Image 5: Infographic of the New Shepard mission timeline]

Conclusion
While Blue Origin’s tourist flights face valid criticism over cost and environmental impact, the “fake door” theory crumbles under scrutiny. As one user quipped, “A high school float could’ve been more convincing? Seriously?”

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