Amanda Nguyen says backlash after Blue Origin flight with Katy Perry led to depression

Bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen has spoken about the emotional toll she faced following Blue Origin’s first all-female spaceflight.

Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman to go to space during the April flight, was part of Flight NS-31 alongside Katy Perry, Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez, Aisha Bowe, and Kerianne Flynn.

While the mission was historic, it also triggered worldwide criticism over its cost and the role of private space travel.

Nguyen recently admitted on Instagram that she experienced a deep depression in the months after the mission.

In a statement shared on December 28, Nguyen said the aftermath sent her into a depression she feared “might last for years.”

She added that her achievements and dreams were overshadowed by misogyny and public backlash.

Nguyen said the scale of the coverage made even limited negativity feel overwhelming.

She described feeling like “collateral damage” and said she struggled to leave her home, at times unable to get out of bed or speak without breaking down.

Despite the harsh experience, Nguyen acknowledged that positive support ultimately helped her recover and credited her friends, community, and time spent reconnecting with her roots in Vietnam.

Eight months later, Nguyen said the emotional weight had begun to lift, without taking as long as she once feared.