Astronaut Reveals Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Backlash Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also included celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.

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

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the aftermath of the flight.

She described the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and operated research during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the followers whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that despite the negativity, considerable good had come out of the mission, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of outer space.

The team of pioneers also comprised accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.

The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.