Crew Member Discloses Emotional Distress Following Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a public message, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the flight.

She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has conducted studies in female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and years of training to the historic significance of her background – was buried under the deluge of sexist vitriol.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She concluded that amid the criticism, considerable good had come out of the flight, including increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The self-operating New Shepard rocket departed Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The diverse crew also included leaders in multiple disciplines.

The venture behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.