Crew Member Reveals Emotional Distress After Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also carried celebrity crewmates.
The much-publicized journey was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the landing.
She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she wrote. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and years of training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the tide of sexist vitriol.
She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Months following fulfilling her dream, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the supporters whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.
She concluded that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, such as spotlight on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.
The Historic Journey
The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the Kármán line of space.
The group of women also included leaders in different industries.
The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.
