Crew Member Reveals Depression Following Deluge of Backlash Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her lab work and years of training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was buried under the tide of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after reaching space, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she said.

She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had emerged from the flight, such as increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that crossed the edge of space.

The team of pioneers also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.