Space Traveler Shares Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of Wave of Backlash Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also carried well-known figures.

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the flight.

She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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 confessed. “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 women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – including her scientific research and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her heritage – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

Finding Solid Ground

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she noted the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that passed the Kármán line of outer space.

The group of women also included experts in various fields.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.