Amanda Nguyen, the 34-year-old Vietnamese-American activist and former astronaut, has opened up about the trauma she experienced after flying on Blue Origin’s first suborbital human-spaceflight mission. Nguyen came to further international attention recently as the first Vietnamese woman to travel into space. She explained what that experience emotionally cost her. The short 11-minute flight marked a historic first. It counted pop star Katy Perry, broadcast journalist Gayle King, and media entrepreneur Lauren Sánchez, married to Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, among its champions. It was overshadowed by a backlash tsunami that made Nguyen feel belittled and alone.
In her confirmation statement, Nguyen pointed to her path as America’s lone civil rights warrior. She foregrounded her historic role as a space pioneer. She fights fiercely on behalf of sexual assault survivors. In 2019, her extraordinary work won her a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2022, she went on to be named one of Time magazine’s Women of the Year. Yet despite these accolades, the aftermath of her flight visited upon her ruinous misfortune.
After the flight, Nguyen faced what she called a “tsunami of harassment.” Unfortunately, the backlash made her feel like “collateral damage,” eclipsing what should have been a moment of personal triumph. Erin described the emotional toll she felt during her time in Texas. During one full week, her grief and depression were so overwhelming that she struggled to even get out of bed.
“How horrible that I needed to deploy that skill once again,” – Amanda Nguyen
Nguyen’s career doesn’t end with advocacy — she’s an accomplished bioastronautics research scientist. Her parents escaped Vietnam after the fall of Saigon to come to the United States as refugees. Nguyen highlighted this journey, stating, “We came on boats, and now we’re on spaceships.” Her accomplishments symbolize hope and perseverance for many, yet the recent events serve as a reminder of the challenges that can accompany public recognition.
The backlash she endured was described by Nguyen as “an onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure.” The emotional distress negatively affected her mental health, creating serious obstacles to her everyday life. She acknowledged that as time passed, the mending process started.
“It is the greatest gift this holiday season that I can feel the fog lifting,” – Amanda Nguyen
Nguyen hopes that by telling her story, she can illuminate the realities of a public life under siege. They frequently face extraordinarily close public and media scrutiny. So she engages in this process every single day. She says she has been overwhelmed with gratitude for all the support she has received from friends and allies.