Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip

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 – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in April, which also featured high-profile passengers.

The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a public message, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.

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

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” 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 operated research during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her background – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is best known for her pioneering work fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since fulfilling her dream, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, including elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

About the Mission

The self-operating spacecraft departed Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the Kármán line of space.

The diverse crew also featured experts in various fields.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.