🔗 Share this article Astronaut Reveals Emotional Distress After ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight Amanda Nguyen, a women's health researcher, was a passenger on the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission. The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Eclipsed by Backlash The researcher, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – including her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was buried under the tide of misogyny. She is best known for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own goal of reaching space was paused after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle. The Fog Begins to Lift Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed. She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, such as spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism. The Historic Journey The self-operating spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the edge of outer space. The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The venture behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
Amanda Nguyen, a women's health researcher, was a passenger on the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission. The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Eclipsed by Backlash The researcher, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – including her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was buried under the tide of misogyny. She is best known for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own goal of reaching space was paused after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle. The Fog Begins to Lift Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed. She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, such as spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism. The Historic Journey The self-operating spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the edge of outer space. The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The venture behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.