Crew Member Reveals Depression After ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also included well-known figures.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to female health 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 roots – was buried under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for survivors of assault.

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

A Path to Recovery

In the time since reaching space, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the experience, including elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

Flight Details

The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The team of pioneers also included leaders in different industries.

The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.