Conspiracies About Katy Perry's Mission to Space

2 minute(s) · April 20, 2025

A brief door malfunction during Katy Perry’s Blue Origin spaceflight sparked viral conspiracy theories, though experts explain the incident as consistent with modern spacecraft design and safety protocols.

Critics on social media argue that space capsules typically require specialized equipment and technicians to open from the outside, and that passenger-operated hatches are unusual. One user wrote, “The capsule looks like an inflatable tent. This whole thing looks like it could’ve been filmed in a studio.”

Skeptics also questioned how clean and flawless the capsule looked after reentry. “There’s no burn marks on the paint,” one commenter noted. “That’s not what a real space capsule should look like after reentry.”

Despite the uproar, experts say there’s a reasonable explanation. The New Shepard capsule barely crossed the Kármán line—the boundary of space—reaching 107 kilometers (66.5 miles) in altitude. Because of this, it didn’t endure the extreme heat and vacuum conditions experienced by spacecraft like those traveling to the International Space Station.

Modern safety protocols also allow for capsule hatches to open from both the inside and outside. NASA regulations specifically require that hatches be operable from either side by a single crew member within 60 seconds. Since the capsule was depressurized after landing, it’s entirely plausible that the crew inside could open it themselves.

The door may have been shut quickly to preserve a photo-op moment with Bezos. While the mission was real, this misstep has become a “perfect storm” for online conspiracy theorists.