Space Traveler Reveals Emotional Distress Following Deluge of Online Abuse Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also carried well-known figures.

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

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a public message, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the flight.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“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.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on gynecological science and operated research during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her roots – was overshadowed under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose support helped save her. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

About the Mission

The self-operating New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line of space.

The group of women also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.

The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.