Crew Member Discloses Emotional Distress Following Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the flight.

She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on gynecological science and performed experiments during the flight, said every professional achievement – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was overshadowed under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for survivors of assault.

Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after reaching space, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, such as increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.

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