🔗 Share this article Astronaut Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Backlash Post-Spaceflight Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was onboard the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space. Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also included celebrity crewmates. The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey. She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her studies and astronaut training to the historic significance of her background – was drowned out under the deluge of misogyny. She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of survivors of assault. Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote. She noted that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the mission, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. The Historic Journey The fully automated 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 edge of outer space. The group of women also included accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was onboard the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space. Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also included celebrity crewmates. The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey. She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her studies and astronaut training to the historic significance of her background – was drowned out under the deluge of misogyny. She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of survivors of assault. Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote. She noted that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the mission, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. The Historic Journey The fully automated 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 edge of outer space. The group of women also included accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines. The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.