Space Traveler Reveals Depression After Deluge of Backlash Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

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

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who cited its expense and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a social media post, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the journey.

She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction 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 wrote. “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 operated research during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her studies and years of training to the personal milestone of her background – was buried under the deluge of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was put on hold after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose support were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

Flight Details

The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The diverse crew also included leaders in multiple disciplines.

The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.