Space Traveler Shares Depression In the Wake of Wave of Online Abuse Following Journey
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a public message, referring to a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight.
She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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 revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – including her studies and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her roots – was overshadowed under the tide of misogyny.
She is best known for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
Finding Solid Ground
In the time since reaching space, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose support pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.
She concluded that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line of space.
The team of pioneers also included leaders in multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a Amazon founder.
