Crew Member Reveals Depression Following Deluge of Online Abuse Following Journey
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the days following the landing.
She described the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her lab work and astronaut training to the historic significance of her background – was buried under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.
She is best known for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle.
A Path to Recovery
Months following fulfilling her dream, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose support were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She noted that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the experience, such as spotlight on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
Flight Details
The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The group of women also included leaders in different industries.
The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.