Crew Member Reveals Depression Following Wave of Backlash After Historic Trip
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, recalling a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the journey.
She portrayed the news reports and online discourse 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.”
Buried Under Misogyny
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks.
She is best known for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Months following fulfilling her dream, she noted the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She noted that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the flight, such as spotlight on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.
About the Mission
The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.
The group of women also included experts in various fields.
The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.
