Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle Following ‘Tsunami of Backlash Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also featured celebrity crewmates.
The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing.
She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Buried Under Misogyny
The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks.
She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.
The Fog Begins to Lift
In the time since fulfilling her dream, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she said.
She added that amid the criticism, considerable good had come out of the experience, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the Kármán line of outer space.
The diverse crew also featured accomplished professionals from various fields.
The venture behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a Amazon founder.
