🔗 Share this article Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress Following Wave of Harassment Following Journey Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was a passenger on the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in April 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 landmark journey to the edge of space. Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also featured well-known figures. The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a public message, referring to a phone call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the flight. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her roots – was overshadowed under the avalanche of sexist vitriol. She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle. The Fog Begins to Lift Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote. She concluded that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space. The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a Amazon founder.
Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was a passenger on the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in April 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 landmark journey to the edge of space. Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also featured well-known figures. The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a public message, referring to a phone call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the flight. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her roots – was overshadowed under the avalanche of sexist vitriol. She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle. The Fog Begins to Lift Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote. She concluded that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space. The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a Amazon founder.