Space Traveler Reveals Mental Health Struggle After Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her battle with depression after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also featured celebrity crewmates.
The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a social media post, referring to a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the period after the journey.
She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Buried Under Misogyny
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – including her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her background – was drowned out under the deluge of gendered attacks.
She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own goal of reaching space was paused after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
A Path to Recovery
Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose support were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.
She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
Flight Details
The fully automated spacecraft launched from its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of outer space.
The group of women also featured experts in different industries.
The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
