Space Traveler Shares Emotional Distress In the Wake of Wave of Backlash After Historic Trip

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the aftermath of the flight.

She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and performed experiments during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – including her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her background – was overshadowed under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

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

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after reaching space, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the supporters whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she said.

She noted that amid the criticism, considerable good had come out of the experience, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.