Space Traveler Shares Depression Following Wave of Online Abuse After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured well-known figures.

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

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.

She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said every professional achievement – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She noted that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the edge of outer space.

The diverse crew also featured experts in different industries.

The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a Amazon founder.