Space Traveler Discloses Depression Following Deluge of Harassment Following Journey
A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also included well-known figures.
The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey.
She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks.
She is best known for her pioneering work championing the cause of survivors of assault.
Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Months following reaching space, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the supporters whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the experience, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
The Historic Journey
The self-operating spacecraft launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line of space.
The diverse crew also included leaders in different industries.
The company behind the flight is a private space firm established by a well-known tech mogul.