Crew Member Reveals Mental Health Struggle Following Wave of Harassment Following Journey
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also included high-profile passengers.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.
She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Buried Under Misogyny
The researcher, who has conducted studies in female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – including her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was buried under the tide of gendered attacks.
She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since achieving her goal, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.
She noted that even with the backlash, considerable good had come out of the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
Flight Details
The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of outer space.
The group of women also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.
The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a Amazon founder.
