Space Traveler Shares Mental Health Struggle Following ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse After Historic Trip

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also included well-known figures.

The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the landing.

She described the news reports and online discourse 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. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her studies and years of training to the historic significance of her background – was drowned out under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.

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

A Path to Recovery

Months following reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She added that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

About the Mission

The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The diverse crew also included accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.

The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.