Crew Member Discloses Depression Following ‘Tsunami of Backlash After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also carried well-known figures.
The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the flight.
She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the historic significance of her heritage – was buried under the deluge of gendered attacks.
She is widely recognized for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.
Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
In the time since reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.
She concluded that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, such as spotlight on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The computer-piloted spacecraft departed its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The diverse crew also included experts in various fields.
The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.
