Space Traveler Discloses Emotional Distress After Deluge of Harassment After Historic Trip

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured high-profile passengers.

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a fellow crew member in the days following the journey.

She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her roots – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the supporters whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that despite the negativity, important benefits had come out of the flight, including spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of space.

The team of pioneers also featured leaders in various fields.

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