Crew Member Shares Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her battle with depression after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

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

The much-publicized journey was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a social media post, describing a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the days following the flight.

She described 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 confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and operated research during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her studies and years of training to the historic significance of her roots – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the followers whose support were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She concluded that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the flight, including spotlight on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of outer space.

The team of pioneers also featured experts in different industries.

The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.