Crew Member Reveals Emotional Distress Following Deluge of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health 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 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.

She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her background – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after an attack during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

Finding Solid Ground

Months following reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She noted that amid the criticism, important benefits had resulted from the experience, such as 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 historic roster on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.

The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a Amazon founder.