Space Traveler Shares Depression After ‘Tsunami of Harassment Following Journey
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also included well-known figures.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing.
She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – including her lab work and astronaut training to the historic significance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the deluge of misogyny.
She is best known for her pioneering work fighting for justice for survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
Finding Solid Ground
Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.
She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
Flight Details
The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the edge of outer space.
The team of pioneers also included leaders in multiple disciplines.
The venture behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
