Crew Member Shares Depression After ‘Tsunami 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 wake of a historic all-female space mission.
Amanda Nguyen – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight.
She described the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“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.”
Buried Under Misogyny
The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – including her lab work and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her background – was drowned out under the tide of misogyny.
She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.
Her own goal of reaching space was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.
Finding Solid Ground
In the time since reaching space, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose support pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she said.
She noted that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The fully automated spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.
The group of women also included accomplished professionals from various fields.
The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.
