Crew Member Discloses Mental Health Struggle After Wave of Online Abuse Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also included well-known figures.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight.

She described the news reports and online discourse 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 wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and operated research during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her roots – was buried under the deluge of sexist vitriol.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose kindness were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the experience, including increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The self-operating New Shepard rocket launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that exceeded the edge of space.

The group of women also featured accomplished professionals from different industries.

The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.