Space Traveler Discloses Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Online Abuse Following Journey
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the days following the journey.
She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Buried Under Misogyny
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the tide of misogyny.
She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
A Path to Recovery
Months following reaching space, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose support pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she said.
She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, such as increased focus on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the Kármán line of outer space.
The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.
The venture behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a well-known tech mogul.
