Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse After Historic Trip

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

Amanda Nguyen – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also featured well-known figures.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight.

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

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was buried under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work championing the cause of survivors of assault.

Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, including spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The team of pioneers also included experts in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.