Crew Member Discloses Depression Following Wave of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath 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 April, which also included celebrity crewmates.

The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.

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

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the historic significance of her roots – was buried under the deluge of sexist vitriol.

She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

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

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose support helped save her. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that crossed the edge of outer space.

The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.