Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress Following ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Following Journey
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a check-in call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.
She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“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.”
Buried Under Misogyny
Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her studies and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her background – was drowned out under the tide of misogyny.
She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
A Path to Recovery
Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She noted that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the experience, such as spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The fully automated spacecraft launched from its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the edge of outer space.
The team of pioneers also featured experts in different industries.
The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.
