Crew Member Discloses Emotional Distress Following Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
Amanda Nguyen – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.
She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her studies and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her background – was overshadowed under the tide of misogyny.
She is widely recognized for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since fulfilling her dream, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She noted that even with the backlash, considerable good had come out of the mission, including spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
Flight Details
The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the edge of outer space.
The diverse crew also featured accomplished professionals from various fields.
The venture behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
