Space Traveler Reveals Emotional Distress Following Wave of Backlash Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, recalling a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.

She characterized 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 revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her scientific research and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the tide of misogyny.

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

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

A Path to Recovery

Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The fully automated spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of outer space.

The diverse crew also comprised leaders in different industries.

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