🔗 Share this article Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle After Wave of Backlash Following Journey Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space. Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight 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 experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a social media post, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the journey. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and performed experiments during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – including her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the deluge of sexist vitriol. She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of sexual assault survivors. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was put on hold after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Months following reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote. She concluded that amid the criticism, considerable good had come out of the flight, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism. The Historic Journey The fully automated spacecraft departed its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of outer space. The group of women also featured accomplished professionals from different industries. The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.
Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space. Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight 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 experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a social media post, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the journey. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and performed experiments during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – including her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the deluge of sexist vitriol. She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of sexual assault survivors. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was put on hold after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Months following reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote. She concluded that amid the criticism, considerable good had come out of the flight, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism. The Historic Journey The fully automated spacecraft departed its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of outer space. The group of women also featured accomplished professionals from different industries. The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.