Crew Member Discloses Emotional Distress Following Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after being subjected to 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 in April, which also carried well-known figures.

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

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “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 female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and astronaut training to the historic significance of her background – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after an attack during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

Finding Solid Ground

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She noted that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted spacecraft launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also featured leaders in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.