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Astronaut shares struggle with post-flight depression
Amanda Nguyen, the first Vietnamese woman in space, has spoken publicly about the severe emotional toll of online harassment following her historic Blue Origin flight earlier this year. The 34-year-old scientist and activist described the backlash as an "avalanche of misogyny" that left her unable to leave her home for days.
The historic flight and its aftermath
Nguyen was part of Blue Origin's NS-25 mission in April, an 11-minute suborbital flight that marked the first all-female crewed spaceflight since 1963. The mission, which crossed the Kármán line-the internationally recognized boundary of space-also included pop star Katy Perry, journalist Lauren Sánchez, and three other women: aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and CBS news anchor Gayle King.
The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from Blue Origin's West Texas facility, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief but symbolic journey. However, the flight drew criticism for its perceived extravagance and environmental impact, sparking a wave of negative reactions online.
A wave of harassment and its toll
In an emotional Instagram post, Nguyen detailed the psychological impact of the backlash, calling it an "onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure." She revealed that in the days following the flight, she was unable to leave her home in Texas for a week, spending much of the time in bed. A month later, a call from a senior Blue Origin staff member left her in tears, forcing her to end the conversation abruptly.
"I told her [Gayle King] my depression might last for years."
Amanda Nguyen, in an Instagram statement
Nguyen, who has spent years advocating for sexual assault survivors, said the harassment overshadowed the significance of her achievement. She described how the moment she had trained for-conducting women's health research in space, making history as the first Vietnamese woman astronaut, and honoring her family's refugee legacy-was "buried under an avalanche of misogyny."
A delayed dream and renewed purpose
Nguyen's path to space was unconventional. After surviving a sexual assault during her university years, she postponed her astronaut ambitions to focus on advocacy, becoming a leading voice for survivors' rights. In March, she told The Guardian that her journey to space was a promise kept to her "survivor self."
Eight months after the flight, Nguyen said she is beginning to emerge from what she called the "fog of grief." In her post, she expressed gratitude to supporters, writing, "You all saved me." Despite the harassment, she acknowledged the flight's positive outcomes, including heightened attention to her women's health research and new opportunities to engage with world leaders on advocacy issues.
Blue Origin's role and broader context
Blue Origin, founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos in 2000, has positioned itself as a leader in private spaceflight. The New Shepard rocket, which requires no human pilot, has completed multiple successful missions, though the company has faced scrutiny over its environmental footprint and the commercialization of space travel.
Nguyen's experience highlights the challenges faced by women in high-profile scientific and public roles, particularly when breaking barriers in male-dominated fields. Her story also underscores the mental health struggles that can accompany sudden fame and intense public scrutiny.
