Crew Member Reveals Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Harassment Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured celebrity crewmates.

The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, 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 said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the landing.

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 confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to female health science and operated research during the mission, said every professional achievement – from her scientific research and years of training to the historic significance of her background – was drowned out under the tide of sexist vitriol.

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

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after an attack during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

Finding Solid Ground

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she noted the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness helped save her. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She added that despite the negativity, important benefits had emerged from the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

About the Mission

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The team of pioneers also comprised leaders in different industries.

The company behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a Amazon founder.