Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle Following Wave of Backlash Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also carried well-known figures.
The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing.
She portrayed 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 confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Buried Under Misogyny
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her scientific research and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her roots – was overshadowed under the tide of sexist vitriol.
She is best known for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the supporters whose kindness pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She added that despite the negativity, considerable good had emerged from the experience, including elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.
The team of pioneers also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
