Crew Member Discloses Emotional Distress After Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, describing a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the period after the journey.
She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“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.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.
She is best known for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
A Path to Recovery
Months following fulfilling her dream, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She added that amid the criticism, important benefits had resulted from the flight, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The self-operating spacecraft launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.
The group of women also featured experts in different industries.
The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a Amazon founder.
