Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress In the Wake of Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
Amanda Nguyen – recognized 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 widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, 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, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.
She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction 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. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the historic significance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the deluge of sexist vitriol.
She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Now, eight months after reaching space, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the supporters whose support were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She noted that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the flight, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
Flight Details
The self-operating spacecraft launched from its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of space.
The diverse crew also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.