🔗 Share this article Astronaut Shares Depression Following ‘Tsunami of Backlash After Historic Trip Amanda Nguyen, a women's health researcher, was onboard the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission. The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact. Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the period after the flight. She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault. “I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Eclipsed by Backlash The researcher, 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 personal milestone of her heritage – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for survivors of assault. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she said. She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the experience, such as spotlight on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. Flight Details The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space. The group of women also featured leaders in multiple disciplines. The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.
Amanda Nguyen, a women's health researcher, was onboard the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission. The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact. Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the period after the flight. She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault. “I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Eclipsed by Backlash The researcher, 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 personal milestone of her heritage – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for survivors of assault. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she said. She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the experience, such as spotlight on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. Flight Details The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space. The group of women also featured leaders in multiple disciplines. The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.