A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her battle with depression after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also carried well-known figures.
The mission was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash 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 check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.
She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and extensive preparation to the historic significance of her roots – was buried under the avalanche of sexist vitriol.
She is best known for her pioneering work fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
The Fog Begins to Lift
In the time since reaching space, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose kindness pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.
She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, including increased focus on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.
About the Mission
The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the edge of outer space.
The diverse crew also featured leaders in different industries.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
