Crew Member Discloses Depression After Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her emotional downturn 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 the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history 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, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the days following the landing.

She described the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the personal milestone of her background – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is best known for her pioneering work championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

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

Finding Solid Ground

Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose support pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, such as increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The fully automated spacecraft launched from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of outer space.

The team of pioneers also included accomplished professionals from various fields.

The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.