Astronaut Shares Depression Following Wave of Online Abuse After Historic Trip
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also featured high-profile passengers.
The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.
She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“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.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and operated research during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her background – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks.
She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
A Path to Recovery
Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she noted the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose support helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.
The Historic Journey
The self-operating New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The group of women also included leaders in different industries.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.
