Crew Member Reveals Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Harassment Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression 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 researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also included well-known figures.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

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

She characterized the press attention and digital reaction 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 confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

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

Finding Solid Ground

Months following achieving her goal, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose support were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she said.

She concluded that amid the criticism, important benefits had emerged from the experience, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The fully automated spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The team of pioneers also included experts in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a well-known tech mogul.