Astronaut Discloses Depression Following Wave of Online Abuse After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated 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 public message, recalling a check-in call from a mission companion in the days following the landing.
She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of sexist vitriol.
She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since fulfilling her dream, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
The Historic Journey
The fully automated spacecraft launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of space.
The group of women also included accomplished professionals from different industries.
The company behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a Amazon founder.
