Space Traveler Reveals Depression After Deluge of Harassment Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured high-profile passengers.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, recalling a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.
She described the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Buried Under Misogyny
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the deluge of gendered attacks.
She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after an attack during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She added that amid the criticism, considerable good had come out of the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.
The Historic Journey
The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.
The diverse crew also included experts in different industries.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a Amazon founder.
