đ Share this article Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress Following Wave of Backlash Post-Spaceflight The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was a passenger on the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space. Amanda Nguyen â recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate â was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred. âI told her my depression might last for years,â Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the landing. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault. âStuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,â she revealed. âWeeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.â Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for â from her lab work and years of training to the historic significance of her background â was overshadowed under the tide of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle. Finding Solid Ground Months following fulfilling her dream, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. âYour support rescued me,â she affirmed. She concluded that despite the negativity, important benefits had emerged from the experience, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism. Flight Details The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space. The team of pioneers also comprised experts in various fields. The company behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a Amazon founder.
The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was a passenger on the automated spacecraft in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space. Amanda Nguyen â recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate â was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred. âI told her my depression might last for years,â Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the landing. She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault. âStuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,â she revealed. âWeeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.â Buried Under Misogyny Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for â from her lab work and years of training to the historic significance of her background â was overshadowed under the tide of misogyny. She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle. Finding Solid Ground Months following fulfilling her dream, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. âYour support rescued me,â she affirmed. She concluded that despite the negativity, important benefits had emerged from the experience, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism. Flight Details The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space. The team of pioneers also comprised experts in various fields. The company behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a Amazon founder.