Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle After ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also carried well-known figures.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the days following the landing.

She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her background – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the followers whose kindness pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She concluded that despite the negativity, important benefits had emerged from the experience, including spotlight on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The diverse crew also featured leaders in various fields.

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