Space Traveler Discloses Mental Health Struggle Following Wave of Backlash Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the journey.
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 wrote. “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 women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her heritage – was drowned out under the deluge of sexist vitriol.
She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose support helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She noted that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The group of women also included accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.
