Crew Member Reveals Depression After Wave of Backlash Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried well-known figures.

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

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.

She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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 confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said every professional achievement – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her heritage – was drowned out under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work championing the cause of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following achieving her goal, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She added that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the experience, including spotlight on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted spacecraft launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of space.

The group of women also featured leaders in various fields.

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