🔗 Share this article Space Traveler Shares Depression Following Wave of Harassment Following Journey Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also included celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, referring to a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the days following the flight. She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and operated research during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her studies and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks. She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors. Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed. She added that even with the backlash, considerable good had come out of the experience, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The computer-piloted spacecraft launched from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the edge of outer space. The group of women also included accomplished professionals from different industries. The company behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a well-known tech mogul.
Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also included celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, referring to a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the days following the flight. She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and operated research during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her studies and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks. She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors. Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed. She added that even with the backlash, considerable good had come out of the experience, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The computer-piloted spacecraft launched from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the edge of outer space. The group of women also included accomplished professionals from different industries. The company behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a well-known tech mogul.