Crew Member Discloses Depression Following ‘Tsunami of Backlash After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

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

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a check-in call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and operated research during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the deluge of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after surviving a rape during her college days, 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 expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the experience, such as increased focus on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.

Flight Details

The self-operating New Shepard rocket departed Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that passed the Kármán line of space.

The diverse crew also featured experts in various fields.

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