Space Traveler Shares Emotional Distress After Deluge of Online Abuse After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
Amanda Nguyen – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates.
The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey.
She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“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.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work 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 fighting for justice for survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.
Finding Solid Ground
Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The self-operating spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.
The diverse crew also included experts in different industries.
The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.
