Crew Member Discloses Mental Health Struggle Following ‘Tsunami of Harassment Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the flight.

She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her scientific research and years of training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is best known for her pioneering work championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following fulfilling her dream, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose support helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She concluded that despite the negativity, important benefits had come out of the experience, such as increased focus on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.

About the Mission

The fully automated spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also comprised experts in various fields.

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