Astronaut Discloses Mental Health Struggle After Wave of Backlash Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” 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 included high-profile passengers.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the period after the landing.
She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said every professional achievement – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her heritage – 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 put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She concluded that even with the backlash, considerable good had resulted from the flight, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of space.
The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from different industries.
The company behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a well-known tech mogul.
