Space Traveler Shares Depression Following Deluge of Backlash Following Journey
A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, referring to a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the aftermath of the flight.
She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her lab work and years of training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was drowned out under the deluge of misogyny.
She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.
Finding Solid Ground
Months following fulfilling her dream, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the supporters whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.
The Historic Journey
The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the Kármán line of outer space.
The group of women also featured experts in multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a Amazon founder.
