Crew Member Shares Mental Health Struggle Following Wave of Harassment Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured celebrity crewmates.

The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a fellow crew member in the days following the landing.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and performed experiments during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her studies and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the deluge of misogyny.

She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for survivors of assault.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

Finding Solid Ground

Months following reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.

She added that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the flight, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also comprised accomplished professionals from different industries.

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