Astronaut Shares Depression After Wave of Online Abuse Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also included celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who became 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,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the landing.

She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.

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

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her background – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

Finding Solid Ground

Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She noted that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, including spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line of space.

The group of women also comprised leaders in multiple disciplines.

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