Crew Member Discloses Depression In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism 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 the spring, which also carried well-known figures.

The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, recalling a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the journey.

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

“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.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and operated research during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her scientific research and years of training to the historic significance of her heritage – was drowned out under the deluge of misogyny.

She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following achieving her goal, she noted the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose kindness pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also featured experts in multiple disciplines.

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