🔗 Share this article Astronaut Discloses Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Harassment Following Journey Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the automated spacecraft in April 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The much-publicized journey was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the deluge of gendered attacks. She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she said. She noted that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the flight, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. Flight Details The computer-piloted spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space. The group of women also featured accomplished professionals from various fields. The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.
Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the automated spacecraft in April 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The much-publicized journey was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the deluge of gendered attacks. She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she said. She noted that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the flight, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. Flight Details The computer-piloted spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space. The group of women also featured accomplished professionals from various fields. The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.