Astronaut Shares Depression In the Wake of Wave of Backlash Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates.

The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, recalling a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.

She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her roots – was buried under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since reaching space, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the supporters whose support were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She concluded that even with the backlash, considerable good had resulted from the mission, such as increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.

The team of pioneers also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a Amazon founder.