Crew Member Reveals Depression After Deluge of Backlash Post-Spaceflight

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 – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, 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 online statement, recalling a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey.

She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her studies and astronaut training to the historic significance of her roots – was drowned out under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

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

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She noted that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had come out of the flight, including spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also included experts in multiple disciplines.

The company behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.