Space Traveler Shares Emotional Distress After Wave of Backlash Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also featured celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and operated research during the flight, said every professional achievement – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her background – was overshadowed under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is best known for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

Finding Solid Ground

In the time since reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, including increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted spacecraft departed its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that passed the edge of space.

The diverse crew also featured experts in various fields.

The company behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.