Crew Member Reveals Depression Following ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

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

The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the journey.

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. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and operated research during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her studies and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her background – was drowned out under the tide of sexist vitriol.

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

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

Finding Solid Ground

In the time since fulfilling her dream, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she said.

She noted that amid the criticism, important benefits had emerged from the experience, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The group of women also featured experts in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a well-known tech mogul.