Crew Member Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also included celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She described the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“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.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and years of training to the historic significance of her heritage – was buried under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the supporters whose kindness pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She noted that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

About the Mission

The fully automated New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the edge of outer space.

The group of women also comprised experts in various fields.

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