Astronaut Shares Depression After Wave of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also carried well-known figures.
The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a public message, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.
She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “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 women's health research and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her studies and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her roots – was buried under the deluge of sexist vitriol.
She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Months following fulfilling her dream, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness helped save her. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.
She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
About the Mission
The self-operating New Shepard rocket departed Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The group of women also included experts in multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
