Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress Following Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression 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 researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also included celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the landing.

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 revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her background – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that passed the edge of space.

The team of pioneers also included accomplished professionals from various fields.

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