Crew Member Shares Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Harassment After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn 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 researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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 revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her studies and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her background – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose kindness helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She noted that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the experience, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of outer space.

The diverse crew also included accomplished professionals from different industries.

The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a Amazon founder.