Crew Member Shares Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of Wave of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also carried well-known figures.

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

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement 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 mission companion in the days following the flight.

She characterized the press attention and digital reaction 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 revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was overshadowed under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own goal of reaching space was paused after an attack during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the supporters whose support helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she said.

She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

Flight Details

The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also featured leaders in different industries.

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