Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress After ‘Tsunami of Harassment After Historic Trip
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the flight.
She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Buried Under Misogyny
Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her studies and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.
She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
Finding Solid Ground
In the time since reaching space, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose kindness helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She added that amid the criticism, important benefits had resulted from the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
The Historic Journey
The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.
The group of women also featured experts in various fields.
The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
