Space Traveler Shares Depression After Wave of Harassment Following Journey
A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also carried high-profile passengers.
The mission was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing.
She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Buried Under Misogyny
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her studies and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was overshadowed under the deluge of sexist vitriol.
She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after an attack during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.
A Path to Recovery
Now, eight months after reaching space, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.
She added that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
The Historic Journey
The fully automated spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of space.
The diverse crew also included leaders in different industries.
The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.
