Nobel Peace Prize nominee Amanda Nguyen is acknowledging on Instagram that she is recovering from depression following her historic Blue Origin flight.
After becoming the first Vietnamese American woman to fly in space in April, the rape survivor and the other civilian crew members received an avalanche of criticism over its environmental impact.
“Another dream turned into a nightmare,” she wrote. “Everything I had worked for – as a scientist…the history that was being made as the first Vietnamese women astronaut…the promise I kept to my survivor self – that dreams are worth fighting for…were buried under an avalanche of misogyny.”
Nguyen flew with an all-women celebrity crew that included pop star Katy Perry, CBS Morning News Anchor Gayle King and Jeff Bezos wife Lauren Sanchez.
Bezos is the owner of Blue Origin.
“My depression might last for years,” Nguyen told King.
Fortunately, that has not happened, thanks to her Nguyen’s friends and many supporters.
“It’s been eight-month since then, and I’m glad the fog of grief has started to lift. My friends who continually checked in on me saved me. The love of my community saved me. You all saved me.”
In a handwritten note to herself dated December 27 she wrote, “I’m happy to report, the depression has lifted.”
Registration is closed for Common Ground: Building Together conference and gala award banquet in San Francisco on January 24. A shoutout to our planning committee: Jane Chin, Frank Mah, Jeannie Young, Akemi Tamanaha, Nathan Soohoo, Mark Young, Dave Liu, and Yiming Fu.
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