Crew Member Discloses Emotional Distress After Deluge of Online Abuse After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also carried well-known figures.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became 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 public message, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and operated research during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her scientific research and astronaut training to the historic significance of her background – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following reaching space, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she said.

She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had emerged from the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The fully automated spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of space.

The diverse crew also included leaders in different industries.

The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.