Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle Following Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake 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 featured celebrity crewmates.
The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a public message, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight.
She portrayed the news reports and online discourse 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 wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and operated research during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her studies and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her background – was drowned out under the avalanche of gendered attacks.
She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She noted that despite the negativity, considerable good had emerged from the experience, including spotlight on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
Flight Details
The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the edge of space.
The team of pioneers also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.
The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a well-known tech mogul.