Space Traveler Reveals Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

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

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.

She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “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 operated research during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her background – was drowned out under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.

She is best known for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since fulfilling her dream, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.

She concluded that amid the criticism, important benefits had come out of the experience, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and chances to influence leaders.

Flight Details

The fully automated New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also included leaders in multiple disciplines.

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