Crew Member Reveals Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Harassment Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake 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 high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

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

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Eclipsed by Backlash

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and operated research 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 deluge of misogyny.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own goal of reaching space was paused after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

Finding Solid Ground

In the time since reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She added that despite the negativity, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the mission, such as increased focus on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.

About the Mission

The fully automated spacecraft launched from its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of space.

The diverse crew also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.

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