Crew Member Discloses Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint.

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

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She characterized the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

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

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said every professional achievement – from her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the supporters whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she said.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that crossed the Kármán line of space.

The diverse crew also featured leaders in various fields.

The venture behind the mission is a private space firm established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.