Crew Member Shares Mental Health Struggle After Wave of Harassment After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” 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 in April, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing.
She described the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and astronaut training to the historic significance of her background – was overshadowed under the deluge of misogyny.
She is best known for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.
A Path to Recovery
Now, eight months after reaching space, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose support helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, including spotlight on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.
The Historic Journey
The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.
The team of pioneers also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.
The company behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
