Space Traveler Shares Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of Deluge of Harassment Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also featured high-profile passengers.

The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a public message, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She described the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and conducted tests during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her lab work and years of training to the historic significance of her roots – was overshadowed under the tide of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

A Path to Recovery

In the time since reaching space, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose support were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She noted that despite the negativity, important benefits had emerged from the mission, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

About the Mission

The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of space.

The group of women also included leaders in multiple disciplines.

The company behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.