Astronaut Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of Wave of Backlash Following Journey
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured well-known figures.
The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the days following the journey.
She described the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and astronaut training to the historic significance of her roots – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks.
She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault.
Her own goal of reaching space was paused after an attack during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she said.
She concluded that amid the criticism, important benefits had emerged from the mission, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of outer space.
The group of women also included experts in various fields.
The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.