Astronaut Reveals Mental Health Struggle After Wave of Backlash Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

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

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a check-in 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.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her studies and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her background – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is best known for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault.

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

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since reaching space, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She noted that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the mission, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The fully automated New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of outer space.

The team of pioneers also comprised accomplished professionals from various fields.

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