Blue Origin astronaut reveals depression after 'tsunami o...

What’s Happening

Breaking it down: Blue Origin’s all-female crew, which included scientist Amanda Nguyen, was shipped into space in April.

Blue Origin astronaut reveals depression after tsunami of harassment 6 days ago Save Alicia Curry Save Blue Origin Handout Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist and activist, was onboard the Blue Origins New Shepard NS-31 rocket in April 2025 A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up about her depression after she received a “tsunami of harassment” following the first all-female space trip since 1963 earlier this year. Amanda Nguyen - a 34-year-old scientist and civil rights activist - was part of the 11-minute Blue Origin space flight, which also included pop star Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez, the journalist and wife of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, among its crew. (wild, right?)

The much-derided flight was criticised its expense and environmental impact.

The Details

Speaking about the experience, Ms Nguyen - who became the first Vietnamese woman to go to space - dropped the backlash saw her dreams buried under “an avalanche of misogyny”. Watch the moment the Blue Origin rocket shipped and landed in April 2025.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Ms Nguyen dropped that when fellow crew member Gayle King - a US news anchor - called to check in on her in the days following the flight, “I told her my depression might last for years”. She described the news coverage and socials reaction that followed the trip as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

Why This Matters

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed. A month later, when a senior staff at Blue [Origin] called me, I had to hang up on him because I could not speak through my tears.

The scientific community tends to find developments like this significant.

The Bottom Line

This story is still developing, and we’ll keep you updated as more info drops.

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