🔗 Share this article Space Traveler Discloses Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Backlash Post-Spaceflight Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was onboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space. The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The mission was heavily criticized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.” Overshadowed by Sexism The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the tide of sexist vitriol. She is best known for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery In the time since achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the followers whose support were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she said. She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism. About the Mission The fully automated spacecraft launched from its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of space. The group of women also included leaders in various fields. The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.
Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was onboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space. The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The mission was heavily criticized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.” Overshadowed by Sexism The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the tide of sexist vitriol. She is best known for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery In the time since achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the followers whose support were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she said. She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism. About the Mission The fully automated spacecraft launched from its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of space. The group of women also included leaders in various fields. The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.