Space Traveler Shares Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of Deluge of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also included well-known figures.

The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.

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

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a public message, recalling a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following 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 revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her roots – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after an attack during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She added that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

About the Mission

The self-operating New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the Kármán line of space.

The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from different industries.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.