Crew Member Discloses Depression After Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
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 mission was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight.
She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and operated research during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the tide of gendered attacks.
She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since achieving her goal, she noted the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she expressed gratitude the supporters whose support were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she said.
She noted that even with the backlash, important benefits had emerged from the experience, including increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The group of women also included experts in various fields.
The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
