Astronaut Discloses Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Backlash Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her battle with depression after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the days following the landing.
She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
The researcher, who has focused her career on women's health research and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was overshadowed under the tide of misogyny.
She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
A Path to Recovery
Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She added that even with the backlash, considerable good had resulted from the flight, including increased focus on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The fully automated spacecraft launched from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that crossed the Kármán line of space.
The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from various fields.
The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
