Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the landing.
She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and operated research during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was buried under the deluge of misogyny.
She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
Finding Solid Ground
In the time since fulfilling her dream, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She noted that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the edge of outer space.
The diverse crew also featured experts in multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.
