🔗 Share this article Space Traveler Discloses Emotional Distress In the Wake of Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight The scientist and activist, a women's health researcher, was aboard the automated spacecraft in April 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. Amanda Nguyen – 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 met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the flight. 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 revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Overshadowed by Sexism Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the historic significance of her background – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks. She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of victims of sexual violence. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Months following reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You all saved me,” she wrote. She noted that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism. The Historic Journey The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that crossed the edge of space. The team of pioneers also included experts in different industries. The company 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 aboard the automated spacecraft in April 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. Amanda Nguyen – 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 met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the flight. 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 revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Overshadowed by Sexism Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the historic significance of her background – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks. She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of victims of sexual violence. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Months following reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You all saved me,” she wrote. She noted that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism. The Historic Journey The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that crossed the edge of space. The team of pioneers also included experts in different industries. The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.