🔗 Share this article Crew Member Shares Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Backlash Post-Spaceflight The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was onboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in April 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also carried celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing. She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault. “I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.” Eclipsed by Backlash The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her studies and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote. She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, such as spotlight on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space. The group of women also featured leaders in multiple disciplines. The venture behind the mission is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.
The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was onboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in April 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also carried celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing. She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault. “I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.” Eclipsed by Backlash The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her studies and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote. She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, such as spotlight on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space. The group of women also featured leaders in multiple disciplines. The venture behind the mission is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.