Space Traveler Discloses Emotional Distress Following Wave of Harassment After Historic Trip

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also carried high-profile passengers.

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

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a public message, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the flight.

She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has conducted studies in female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her background – was drowned out under the tide of misogyny.

She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose support pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She noted that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The fully automated spacecraft launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that exceeded the Kármán line of outer space.

The team of pioneers also comprised accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.

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