A Vietnamese American astronaut has spoken publicly about depression after facing what she called a wave of harassment following a Blue Origin space flight earlier this year.
Amanda Nguyen, a 34-year-old scientist and civil rights activist, joined an eleven-minute trip to space in April. The mission marked the first all-female spaceflight since 1963. The crew included pop singer Katy Perry, journalist Lauren Sánchez, and US news anchor Gayle King.
Backlash After Historic Flight
The flight drew criticism almost immediately. Many questioned its cost and environmental impact. As a result, Nguyen became a target of intense online abuse.
She later said the response buried her achievement under what she described as deep misogyny. Despite years of training and preparation, public reaction overshadowed her work and the science she conducted during the mission.
Struggle With Depression
In an Instagram post, Nguyen shared the personal toll of the backlash. She said she struggled to leave her home for a week and often stayed in bed. When Gayle King checked on her, Nguyen admitted she feared her depression could last a year.
Later, when a senior Blue Origin staff member called her, she said she could not speak without crying and ended the call early.
She described the media attention and online response as more than any person can handle. According to Nguyen, the emotional weight felt overwhelming and constant.
Meaning Beyond Space
Nguyen became the first Vietnamese woman to travel to space. The moment carried deep meaning for her, especially as the child of boat refugees and during the fiftieth year since the US Vietnam war.
She said the criticism erased the importance of that history, her research on women’s health, and the promise she made to herself as a survivor.
Nguyen is widely known for her advocacy for sexual assault survivors. She once paused her dream of becoming an astronaut after being raped in college. She then spent years fighting for justice and civil rights reform.
Signs of Healing
Eight months after the flight, Nguyen said the grief had begun to lift. She thanked supporters who reached out with kind messages. She said their support helped her survive a very dark period.
At the same time, she acknowledged positive outcomes from the mission. Media attention helped highlight her women’s health research. It also opened doors to meetings with global leaders related to her advocacy work.
About the Mission
Blue Origin launched the New Shepard rocket from Texas in April. The fully automated spacecraft carried six women past the recognized edge of space on a short suborbital flight.
The crew also included aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe and film producer Kerianne Flynn. The rocket did not require human control during the mission.
Blue Origin is a private space company founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, who also founded Amazon.
