🔗 Share this article Crew Member Reveals Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in April 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space. The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured high-profile passengers. The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint. Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the flight. She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.” Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice. Finding Solid Ground Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose support helped save her. “You all saved me,” she said. She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, including spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism. Flight Details The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of outer space. The team of pioneers also included accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in April 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space. The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured high-profile passengers. The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint. Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the flight. She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.” Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice. Finding Solid Ground Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose support helped save her. “You all saved me,” she said. She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, including spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism. Flight Details The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of outer space. The team of pioneers also included accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.