Space Traveler Shares Depression After Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath 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 April, which also included high-profile passengers.

The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.

She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her background – was overshadowed under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was put on hold after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

A Path to Recovery

Months following reaching space, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She added that despite the negativity, important benefits had come out of the experience, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The fully automated spacecraft departed Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.

The group of women also featured leaders in different industries.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.