Crew Member Shares Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Harassment 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 pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried well-known figures.

The much-publicized journey was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight.

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

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – including her lab work and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her roots – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks.

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

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

A Path to Recovery

Months following achieving her goal, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the mission, such as increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The diverse crew also included experts in various fields.

The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.