Crew Member Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Harassment After Historic Trip

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 pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the landing.

She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her background – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is best known for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

Finding Solid Ground

Months following achieving her goal, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose support helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.

She added that despite the negativity, considerable good had resulted from the mission, such as increased focus on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

Flight Details

The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The team of pioneers also included experts in different industries.

The company behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.