Crew Member Shares Depression After Deluge of Harassment Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed 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 – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also carried well-known figures.
The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a social media post, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the landing.
She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
The researcher, who has conducted studies in female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her background – was overshadowed under the avalanche of gendered attacks.
She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of survivors of assault.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since reaching space, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.
She noted that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, including elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
Flight Details
The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.
The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from various fields.
The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a well-known tech mogul.
