Crew Member Shares Depression After ‘Tsunami of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also included well-known figures.

The mission was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a public message, referring to a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

Finding Solid Ground

Now, eight months after reaching space, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose support helped save her. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.

She added that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, such as increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of space.

The team of pioneers also featured leaders in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.