Space Traveler Discloses Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Backlash Following Journey
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also carried well-known figures.
The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the landing.
She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“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.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of misogyny.
She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
A Path to Recovery
Now, eight months after reaching space, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the supporters whose support helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that exceeded the edge of outer space.
The group of women also included leaders in various fields.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a Amazon founder.
