Crew Member Shares Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Backlash Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also included high-profile passengers.

The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the landing.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her scientific research and astronaut training to the historic significance of her roots – was overshadowed under the tide of misogyny.

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

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

A Path to Recovery

In the time since achieving her goal, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.

She noted that amid the criticism, considerable good had come out of the mission, including spotlight on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.

The Historic Journey

The fully automated spacecraft launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The diverse crew also featured experts in different industries.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a Amazon founder.