🔗 Share this article Crew Member Discloses Emotional Distress Following Wave of Online Abuse Following Journey The scientist and activist, a women's health researcher, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her battle with depression after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates. The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the flight. She described the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Overshadowed by Sexism The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her heritage – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle. Finding Solid Ground Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose kindness helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote. She concluded that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the experience, including spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism. Flight Details The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space. The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
The scientist and activist, a women's health researcher, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her battle with depression after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates. The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the flight. She described the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Overshadowed by Sexism The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her heritage – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle. Finding Solid Ground Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose kindness helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote. She concluded that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the experience, including spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism. Flight Details The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space. The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.