Astronaut Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Harassment After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also included well-known figures.

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.

She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“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 focused her career on women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was drowned out under the deluge of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following fulfilling her dream, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She noted that even with the backlash, important benefits had emerged from the mission, such as increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

The Historic Journey

The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a Amazon founder.