Space Traveler Shares Emotional Distress After Wave of Online Abuse After Historic Trip

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also carried well-known figures.

The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response 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, recalling a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on women's health research and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is best known for her pioneering work fighting for justice for sexual assault survivors.

Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following fulfilling her dream, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the supporters whose kindness helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She noted that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of space.

The team of pioneers also included accomplished professionals from different industries.

The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a Amazon founder.