Space Traveler Discloses Emotional Distress Following Deluge of Harassment Following Journey
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also included well-known figures.
The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a social media post, describing a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the journey.
She portrayed 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.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has focused her career on women's health research and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and years of training to the historic significance of her background – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.
She is best known for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
A Path to Recovery
Months following reaching space, she noted the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she said.
She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the mission, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.
About the Mission
The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of space.
The group of women also featured experts in multiple disciplines.
The venture behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
