Astronaut Discloses Mental Health Struggle Following ‘Tsunami of Backlash Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the wake 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 in the spring, which also carried well-known figures.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the deluge of sexist vitriol.

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

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after an attack during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

In the time since achieving her goal, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She concluded that even with the backlash, considerable good had emerged from the flight, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the edge of space.

The diverse crew also featured leaders in various fields.

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