Crew Member Discloses Depression After ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the landing.
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 revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of sexist vitriol.
She is best known for her pioneering work championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Months following achieving her goal, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She noted that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, including spotlight on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The diverse crew also included accomplished professionals from various fields.
The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.