Space Traveler Reveals Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Online Abuse After Historic Trip
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also featured high-profile passengers.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as 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, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey.
She portrayed 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 wrote. “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 performed experiments during the flight, said every professional achievement – from her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of misogyny.
She is best known for her pioneering work protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
A Path to Recovery
Months following reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she expressed gratitude the supporters whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had come out of the flight, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and chances to influence leaders.
About the Mission
The self-operating New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of outer space.
The team of pioneers also included leaders in multiple disciplines.
The venture behind the flight is a private space firm founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
