Space Traveler Reveals Mental Health Struggle After Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also featured celebrity crewmates.
The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.
She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
The researcher, who has focused her career on women's health research and operated research during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her scientific research and years of training to the personal milestone of her background – was buried under the tide of misogyny.
She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
A Path to Recovery
Now, eight months after reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.
She concluded that amid the criticism, important benefits had come out of the experience, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
Flight Details
The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that passed the Kármán line of outer space.
The diverse crew also comprised leaders in different industries.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.
