Space Traveler Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing.

She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her studies and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her background – was drowned out under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

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

In the time since reaching space, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose support pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She concluded that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had come out of the flight, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The diverse crew also comprised leaders in various fields.

The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.