🔗 Share this article Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle After ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight Amanda Nguyen, a women's health researcher, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also included high-profile passengers. The mission 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 negative reaction buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, recalling a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the flight. She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was overshadowed under the tide of gendered attacks. She is best known for her pioneering work protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed. She added that amid the criticism, considerable good had resulted from the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism. About the Mission The computer-piloted spacecraft launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that passed the Kármán line of outer space. The diverse crew also featured experts in different industries. The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.
Amanda Nguyen, a women's health researcher, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also included high-profile passengers. The mission 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 negative reaction buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, recalling a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the flight. She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was overshadowed under the tide of gendered attacks. She is best known for her pioneering work protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed. She added that amid the criticism, considerable good had resulted from the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism. About the Mission The computer-piloted spacecraft launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that passed the Kármán line of outer space. The diverse crew also featured experts in different industries. The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.