Space Traveler Discloses Depression Following ‘Tsunami of Harassment Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also included high-profile passengers.

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

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.

She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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 confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and operated research during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her lab work and years of training to the symbolic importance of her background – was drowned out under the tide of misogyny.

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

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

Finding Solid Ground

Now, eight months after reaching space, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the supporters whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the flight, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and chances to influence leaders.

The Historic Journey

The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line of space.

The group of women also featured leaders in various fields.

The venture behind the mission is a private space firm established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.