Crew Member Discloses Mental Health Struggle After ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the landing.

She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

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

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her background – was overshadowed under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

Her own goal of reaching space was paused after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

A Path to Recovery

In the time since reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the supporters whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had emerged from the experience, including spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The diverse crew also featured experts in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.