Space Traveler Discloses Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Harassment Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.

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

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – including her scientific research and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her background – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the flight, including elevated attention for her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

Flight Details

The fully automated spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the edge of outer space.

The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from different industries.

The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.