🔗 Share this article Crew Member Shares Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of Deluge of Backlash Post-Spaceflight Amanda Nguyen, a women's health researcher, was onboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight. She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said every professional achievement – from her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the avalanche of sexist vitriol. She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of sexual assault survivors. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was put on hold after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. The Fog Begins to Lift Months following fulfilling her dream, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose support helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed. She added that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the experience, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. The Historic Journey The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space. The team of pioneers also included experts in multiple disciplines. The company behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
Amanda Nguyen, a women's health researcher, was onboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight. The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates. The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”. “I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight. She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said every professional achievement – from her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the avalanche of sexist vitriol. She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of sexual assault survivors. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was put on hold after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. The Fog Begins to Lift Months following fulfilling her dream, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose support helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed. She added that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the experience, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities. The Historic Journey The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space. The team of pioneers also included experts in multiple disciplines. The company behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.