🔗 Share this article Space Traveler Shares Emotional Distress In the Wake of Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight The scientist and activist, a women's health researcher, was a passenger on the automated spacecraft in April 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight. She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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 revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Eclipsed by Backlash Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the deluge of gendered attacks. She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. Finding Solid Ground In the time since fulfilling her dream, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed. She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the Kármán line of outer space. The diverse crew also comprised experts in different industries. The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.
The scientist and activist, a women's health researcher, was a passenger on the automated spacecraft in April 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission. Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured celebrity crewmates. The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight. She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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 revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Eclipsed by Backlash Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the deluge of gendered attacks. She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of survivors of assault. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. Finding Solid Ground In the time since fulfilling her dream, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed. She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the Kármán line of outer space. The diverse crew also comprised experts in different industries. The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.