Space Traveler Discloses Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about 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 researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also included well-known figures.

The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a social media post, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the landing.

She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her background – was buried under the deluge of sexist vitriol.

She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She noted that despite the negativity, important benefits had emerged from the mission, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The diverse crew also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.