Space Traveler Shares Depression Following Deluge of Backlash Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also carried high-profile passengers.

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

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a public message, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the journey.

She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

In the time since achieving her goal, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she said.

She concluded that amid the criticism, important benefits had come out of the flight, such as spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The self-operating spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also comprised leaders in various fields.

The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.