Astronaut Shares Depression After Deluge of Harassment After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed 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 – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also featured high-profile passengers.
The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated 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 social media post, describing a phone call from a mission companion 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. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Buried Under Misogyny
Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the deluge of gendered attacks.
She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a protracted legal battle.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Months following fulfilling her dream, she noted 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 affirmed.
She concluded that amid the criticism, considerable good had resulted from the flight, including elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.
The group of women also included experts in various fields.
The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a Amazon founder.
