Astronaut Shares Depression In the Wake of Wave of Online Abuse Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring 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 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also included celebrity crewmates.

The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, recalling a supportive conversation 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 confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her studies and years of training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is best known for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

A Path to Recovery

In the time since reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the supporters whose support pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she said.

She noted that despite the negativity, considerable good had come out of the flight, such as spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The fully automated spacecraft launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.

The diverse crew also featured leaders in multiple disciplines.

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