Crew Member Reveals Depression Following Deluge of Harassment After Historic Trip
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, recalling a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey.
She described the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Buried Under Misogyny
Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the tide of misogyny.
She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.
Her own goal of reaching space was paused after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
Finding Solid Ground
In the time since reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she said.
She added that amid the criticism, considerable good had resulted from the mission, including increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
The Historic Journey
The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that crossed the edge of outer space.
The team of pioneers also included accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.
