🔗 Share this article Crew Member Shares Depression Following Deluge of Online Abuse After Historic Trip The scientist and activist, a women's health researcher, was onboard the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. Amanda Nguyen – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also carried high-profile passengers. The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing. She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”. “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 Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the avalanche of gendered attacks. She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence. Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after an attack during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she affirmed. She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. The Historic Journey The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space. The team of pioneers also featured leaders in multiple disciplines. The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.
The scientist and activist, a women's health researcher, was onboard the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. Amanda Nguyen – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also carried high-profile passengers. The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing. She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”. “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 Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the avalanche of gendered attacks. She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence. Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after an attack during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she affirmed. She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. The Historic Journey The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space. The team of pioneers also featured leaders in multiple disciplines. The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.