Crew Member Shares Depression After Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

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 much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a social media post, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

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

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has focused her career on gynecological science and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and years of training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a protracted legal battle.

Finding Solid Ground

Months following achieving her goal, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the supporters whose support pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, such as increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The fully automated spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that passed the edge of outer space.

The group of women also included accomplished professionals from different industries.

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