Space Traveler Discloses Depression In the Wake of Deluge of Online Abuse Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also featured high-profile passengers.

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

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.

She described the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

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

Eclipsed by Backlash

The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her background – was drowned out under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was put on hold after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the supporters whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that despite the negativity, considerable good had emerged from the experience, including spotlight on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The computer-piloted spacecraft launched from its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The diverse crew also featured leaders in various fields.

The company behind the mission is a private space firm established by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.