Space Traveler Reveals Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also carried well-known figures.

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

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, 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 “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

Finding Solid Ground

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she noted the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the supporters whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the flight, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that passed the Kármán line of space.

The group of women also comprised leaders in multiple disciplines.

The venture behind the mission is a private space firm established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.