Space Traveler Shares Depression After ‘Tsunami of Harassment Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse 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 brief journey to space earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the days following the journey.

She described the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “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 female health science and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and years of training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was buried under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since achieving her goal, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She noted that even with the backlash, considerable good had emerged from the experience, including increased focus on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

About the Mission

The computer-piloted spacecraft launched from its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that passed the edge of outer space.

The group of women also featured experts in various fields.

The venture behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.