Crew Member Shares Emotional Distress Following Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also featured high-profile passengers.

The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, recalling a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.

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 revealed. “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 conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her heritage – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny.

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

Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the supporters whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the edge of space.

The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from various fields.

The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a well-known tech mogul.