Astronaut Shares Mental Health Struggle After Deluge of Backlash Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also carried celebrity crewmates.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the flight.

She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.

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

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her lab work and astronaut training to the historic significance of her roots – was buried under the tide of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following reaching space, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the followers whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the flight, including spotlight on her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.

Flight Details

The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also featured experts in various fields.

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