Scientist Amanda Nguyen Details Depression After Blue Origin Flight

Amanda Nguyen is breaking her silence.

The activist shared that she’s been dealing with mental health challenges since the public criticism she received after flying to space on Blue Origin in April with Katy Perry and Gayle King.

Amanda shared on Instagram on December 28th that when Gayle reached out after her spaceflight, she confided that she feared her depression could last for years. She described the experience as a dream that had become a nightmare.

She explained that all her life’s work – her career as a scientist, her research on women’s health, the years of training, her space experiments, and the historic significance of being the first Vietnamese woman astronaut – was overshadowed by sexism. This was especially poignant as it occurred on the 50th anniversary of the US-Vietnam war and held personal meaning for her, being the child of refugees who had promised herself to pursue her dreams, even after prioritizing the fight for basic rights.

The 34-year-old woman said she felt like she was unfairly hurt by the intense and negative media attention surrounding the space mission. She felt like an unintended victim of the widespread coverage.

She explained that she was bedridden for a week after leaving Texas. A month later, when someone important from Blue Origin called, she was so overwhelmed with emotion that she had to end the call while crying.

The founder of Rise explained how the Blue Origin flight—which also featured Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Aisha Bowe, and Kerianne Flynn—helped her work, specifically by raising awareness for her breast cancer research.

She stated that she successfully used science to improve diplomatic relations, and that the results have been overwhelmingly positive.

She stated that her aim of using science to improve international relations had been successful, and that the results had been overwhelmingly positive.

She also noted that she’s beginning to feel better eight months after the ordeal began.

Amanda shared that she was beginning to feel better after a period of sadness. She explained that even during difficult days, she found strength in the kindness and support she received. She then drew a powerful comparison: while Neil Armstrong’s moon landing happened during a time of war in Vietnam, this year her family, who arrived in the country as refugees by boat, witnessed a moment of hope – the first Vietnamese woman traveling to space. It felt like a full circle – from fleeing by boat to now reaching for the stars.

Amanda thanked the strength she found within herself for getting her through a difficult period. She then shared a journal entry from December 27th where she happily announced that her depression had finally gone away. Alongside the entry, she posted an older photo of herself with the caption, “For her…”

Keep reading for more on the Blue Origin flight…

Oh my gosh, Blue Origin! It’s seriously the most amazing company, founded by Jeff Bezos himself back in 2000. I’ve been following them forever! They’re based right there in Kent, Washington, and their goal is just… incredible. They want to use what space has to offer to help Earth, but also, they want to get so many people living and working up there! I remember when Bezos said he envisioned millions of people in space – it gave me chills! They’re doing it by building rockets and engines you can reuse, which will make space travel way cheaper and open it up to everyone, not just astronauts. It’s all about making space sustainable! I’m saving up, obviously. It’s not exactly cheap – you need a $150,000 deposit just to get on the list, but honestly, it’s worth it to be a part of history, right?

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by innovations that push boundaries, and Blue Origin’s New Shepard is definitely one of them! It’s named after the pioneering astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and it’s designed as a completely reusable rocket for taking people on suborbital flights. What’s really cool is that it flies itself – there’s no pilot needed!

They started testing it back in 2015, and after 16 successful tests, they were ready for passengers. In July 2021, Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark, and a lucky auction winner (who paid $28 million for the seat!) took the first human flight. Later that year, William Shatner and Michael Strahan also experienced the thrill of space travel aboard New Shepard.

Now, they’re gearing up for mission NS-31, which will be the 31st launch overall and the 11th time they’ve flown people to space. It’s a really exciting time for space tourism!

Blue Origin plans to launch its NS-31 mission on April 14th from its Launch Site One in the West Texas desert. The launch window opens at 8:30 a.m. Central Time, according to the company’s website.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by experiences that truly take you beyond the everyday, and Blue Origin’s New Shepard flights are definitely that! Imagine accelerating to over three times the speed of sound as you head towards space. You’ll actually cross the Kármán line – that’s the internationally recognized boundary of space, about 62 miles up – and then the most incredible part: you get to unbuckle and float weightlessly, looking back at Earth. The whole journey, from liftoff to a gentle parachute landing, is surprisingly quick – around 11 minutes. It’s a truly transformative experience!

I’m absolutely thrilled about the NS-31 crew! It’s incredible to see such a diverse and inspiring group heading to space – Katy Perry, Gayle King, Kerianne Flynn, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Lauren Sánchez. What makes this mission really special is that it’s the first all-female crew since 1963, when Valentina Tereshkova bravely went alone! And it’s not just a milestone for women in general, but for representation too – Amanda Nguyen will be the first Vietnamese woman in space, and Aisha Bowe is set to become the first person of Bahamian heritage to reach for the stars. It’s a truly historic moment, and I can’t wait to watch them make history!

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by the ‘why’ behind people’s choices, and this mission is no different. Each woman on this incredible journey has deeply personal reasons for being involved. I recently read about it in ELLE, and it’s truly inspiring. Katy Perry, for example, wants to show her daughter, Daisy, that there are no limits to what she can achieve, regardless of her background. She wants Daisy to dream big and know anything is possible. Tracee Ellis Ross, while understandably nervous, hopes to empower others to push past their fears and step outside their comfort zones – to prove that even reluctant people can have amazing experiences. And for Dr. Sian Proctor, this mission is a dream come true after years of setbacks. She shared that she once worked at NASA and studied astrophysics, but life – and unfortunately, gender-based violence – intervened. She bravely channeled that experience into advocacy, drafting and passing crucial legislation for sexual assault survivors. Now, after a decade of dedicated work, she’s reclaiming her original passion and honoring the scientist she always was. It’s a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams and that resilience can lead to extraordinary things.

As reported by Good Morning America, the entire crew will arrive at the launch site several days before liftoff to prepare. This training includes getting their flight suits fitted, learning the ins and outs of the spacecraft, practicing communication with mission control, and reviewing all safety procedures.

While the team underwent official mission preparation, some crew members also took initiative with their own training. Bowe shared with ELLE weeks before launch that he’d been preparing for a year, recently increasing the intensity. He completed a NASTAR simulation to experience the sensations of flight and emphasized the importance of physical conditioning, including a planned fighter jet flight to prepare his body for the forces of launch. Flynn also participated in multiple zero-gravity simulation flights, which involved flying in a specially modified Boeing 747 that created brief periods of weightlessness through parabolic maneuvers. She also completed NASTAR training, experiencing forces up to five times the normal pull of gravity. Both hoped their extra preparation would help them enjoy the experience of space travel.

Each astronaut is bringing personal items on their upcoming mission. King is bringing photos, while Sánchez is packing a stuffed animal character from her children’s book, The Fly Who Flew to Space. Bowe has a particularly meaningful item: a flag from the Apollo 12 mission, given to her by Nancy Conrad, the wife of astronaut Pete Conrad, who saw parallels between their journeys. Bowe is also bringing plant samples from Winston-Salem State University and dehydrated conch chowder, representing The Bahamas. Nguyen is bringing shells from her mother’s homeland, a reminder of her past, and a powerful note she wrote to herself after an assault – “Never ever give up” – which motivated her through difficult times. She’s also taking a pen used by former President Barack Obama to sign the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Act, a coin from the Nguyen dynasty, and seeds from a Freetown cotton tree.

Several celebrities have shared their thoughts on the recent space mission. Stars like Tom Hanks, Megan Rapinoe, Bill Nye, and Drew Barrymore sent encouraging video messages to the crew. Drew Barrymore even said she looked forward to learning from the crew upon their return.

However, not everyone is supportive. Olivia Munn voiced her criticism on Today with Jenna & Friends, questioning the timing and purpose of the mission given pressing issues facing the world. She also pointed out the enormous cost of space travel when many people are struggling to afford basic necessities like eggs.

Munn further suggested the mission felt excessive, asking what meaningful outcome it would achieve.

Correspondent Ginger King acknowledges the criticism leveled at billionaire Jeff Bezos and the perception that the mission is self-promotion for him and his company, Blue Origin. She admits to having her own reservations about some of Bezos’s decisions. However, King believes the mission itself is bigger than one person or company and that it’s possible to support space exploration while also addressing important issues on Earth. She doesn’t see it as an either/or situation.

2025-12-29 20:18

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