Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle Following Wave of Online Abuse After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.
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 revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – including her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her background – was overshadowed under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.
She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
Finding Solid Ground
In the time since reaching space, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.
She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the experience, including spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
Flight Details
The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.
The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.
The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.
