Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Harassment After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath 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 featured celebrity crewmates.

The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the landing.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was put on hold after an attack during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since fulfilling her dream, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose support were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.

She concluded that despite the negativity, important benefits had come out of the experience, including spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also comprised leaders in various fields.

The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.