Crew Member Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of Wave of Backlash Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut 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 – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a public message, recalling a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and operated research during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her scientific research and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her roots – was overshadowed under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

Finding Solid Ground

Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the supporters whose support helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She concluded that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the experience, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the edge of space.

The diverse crew also comprised experts in various fields.

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