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.The much-derided flight was criticised by some for its expense and environmental impact.Speaking about the experience, Ms Nguyen – who became the first Vietnamese woman to go to space – said the backlash saw her dreams buried under “an avalanche of misogyny”.In a statement posted on Instagram, Ms Nguyen said 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 social media reaction that followed the trip as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.”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.”Ms Nyugen, who has worked as a scientist researching women’s health and conducted numerous experiments during the B …
