Astronaut Shares Depression Following Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after enduring a massive wave of online abuse 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 brief journey to space in April, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a public message, recalling a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.
She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was buried under the tide of gendered attacks.
She is best known for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
In the time since fulfilling her dream, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She added that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the mission, such as increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
Flight Details
The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that crossed the edge of outer space.
The diverse crew also included accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.
The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.
