Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Harassment Following Journey
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her battle with depression after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.
Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the landing.
She described the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to female health science and operated research during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the historic significance of her roots – was overshadowed under the deluge of sexist vitriol.
She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.
Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
The Fog Begins to Lift
In the time since fulfilling her dream, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.
She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had emerged from the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
The Historic Journey
The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.
The team of pioneers also included leaders in multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
