Space Traveler Reveals Depression After ‘Tsunami of Harassment After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.

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

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became 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,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing.

She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

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

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She concluded that despite the negativity, considerable good had come out of the experience, such as spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The self-operating spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also featured experts in various fields.

The venture behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.