Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress After ‘Tsunami of Backlash Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health after being subjected to 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 short-duration mission earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

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

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, describing a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.

She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

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

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was overshadowed under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

In the time since achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She noted that despite the negativity, important benefits had resulted from the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

About the Mission

The fully automated New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the edge of space.

The group of women also comprised leaders in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a Amazon founder.