Crew Member Discloses Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Harassment After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

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

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.

She characterized 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 revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the followers whose support were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, such as spotlight on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

The Historic Journey

The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the edge of space.

The diverse crew also included leaders in different industries.

The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.