Astronaut Discloses Depression Following Deluge of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also included celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, recalling a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her background – was buried under the deluge of misogyny.

She is best known for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

Finding Solid Ground

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

She noted that amid the criticism, considerable good had come out of the mission, such as spotlight on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

Flight Details

The self-operating New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The team of pioneers also included leaders in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a Amazon founder.