Space Traveler Discloses Depression In the Wake of Wave of Harassment After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” 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 celebrity crewmates.

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, recalling a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.

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

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was drowned out under the deluge of misogyny.

She is best known for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after an attack during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.

She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the flight, such as increased focus on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also included leaders in various fields.

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