Space Traveler Shares Depression After ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also included high-profile passengers.

The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the days following the journey.

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

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was overshadowed under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after an attack during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, including elevated attention for her scientific work and chances to influence leaders.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also featured leaders in various fields.

The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.