🔗 Share this article Crew Member Shares Depression After ‘Tsunami of Harassment Following Journey The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also featured well-known figures. The mission was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, recalling a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight. She characterized the news reports and online discourse 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.” Eclipsed by Backlash Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her roots – was buried under the tide of gendered attacks. She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle. Finding Solid Ground Months following achieving her goal, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she said. She concluded that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, including increased focus on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. The Historic Journey The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of outer space. The group of women also featured experts in various fields. The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.
The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also featured well-known figures. The mission was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact. Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, recalling a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight. She characterized the news reports and online discourse 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.” Eclipsed by Backlash Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her roots – was buried under the tide of gendered attacks. She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle. Finding Solid Ground Months following achieving her goal, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she said. She concluded that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, including increased focus on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. The Historic Journey The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of outer space. The group of women also featured experts in various fields. The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.