Astronaut Discloses Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a social media post, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.

She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” 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 – including her scientific research and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the tide of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after an attack during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.

She noted that even with the backlash, considerable good had come out of the flight, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.

The group of women also included accomplished professionals from different industries.

The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.