Crew Member Discloses Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Online Abuse After Historic Trip
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, recalling a phone call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the journey.
She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“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.”
Buried Under Misogyny
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the tide of sexist vitriol.
She is best known for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault.
Her own goal of reaching space was paused after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.
A Path to Recovery
Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had come out of the flight, including elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from different industries.
The venture behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
