Space Traveler Reveals Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Backlash Following Journey
A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member 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. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the deluge of misogyny.
She is widely recognized for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since fulfilling her dream, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She added that despite the negativity, important benefits had resulted from the experience, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.
The team of pioneers also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.
The company behind the flight is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.
