Space Traveler Shares Emotional Distress In the Wake of Wave of Harassment After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“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 flight.

She described the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her studies and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was buried under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

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

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since achieving her goal, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that despite the negativity, considerable good had resulted from the flight, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The team of pioneers also included experts in various fields.

The venture behind the mission is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.