Astronaut Reveals Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Backlash Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates.

The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, recalling a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the journey.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for 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.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after reaching space, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.

She added that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, such as spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The diverse crew also comprised leaders in different industries.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.