Astronaut Discloses Depression After Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also included well-known figures.
The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.
She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her roots – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks.
She is best known for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since fulfilling her dream, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.
She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the flight, such as increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
The Historic Journey
The computer-piloted spacecraft launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that passed the Kármán line of space.
The diverse crew also included leaders in various fields.
The company behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a Amazon founder.