Crew Member Reveals Depression Following Wave of Online Abuse After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also included well-known figures.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since fulfilling her dream, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.

She noted that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, including spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also comprised experts in different industries.

The company behind the flight is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.