Crew Member Reveals Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Harassment Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a public message, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.
She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and operated research during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and years of training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.
She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.
Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
A Path to Recovery
In the time since reaching space, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She noted that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, such as increased focus on her scientific work and chances to influence leaders.
About the Mission
The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the edge of space.
The diverse crew also included experts in multiple disciplines.
The company behind the flight is a private space firm founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
