Astronaut Discloses Mental Health Struggle Following Wave of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also included celebrity crewmates.

The much-publicized journey was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, recalling a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “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 gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the deluge of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She noted that even with the backlash, considerable good had emerged from the mission, such as increased focus on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.

Flight Details

The fully automated New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also included experts in various fields.

The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.