Crew Member Shares Emotional Distress After Deluge of Harassment Following Journey

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

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

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

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the days following the journey.

She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“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.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she noted the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, such as increased focus on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket departed Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of space.

The diverse crew also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.

The venture behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a Amazon founder.