Crew Member Shares Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Online Abuse After Historic Trip

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her battle with depression after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also included well-known figures.

The high-profile flight was met with derision 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 vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.

She portrayed the news reports and online discourse 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 confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – including her scientific research and years of training to the historic significance of her roots – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

Finding Solid Ground

Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, including increased focus 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 six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the Kármán line of space.

The group of women also included leaders in various fields.

The company behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.