Crew Member Reveals Depression In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Backlash Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the journey.
She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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 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 conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the historic significance of her background – was overshadowed under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.
She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.
She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the flight, such as increased focus on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.
Flight Details
The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of space.
The team of pioneers also comprised leaders in multiple disciplines.
The venture behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a Amazon founder.
