Crew Member Reveals Emotional Distress After Deluge of Harassment Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

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 featured celebrity crewmates.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, recalling a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.

She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

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

Buried Under Misogyny

Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – including her lab work and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her background – was drowned out under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

A Path to Recovery

Months following fulfilling her dream, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the followers whose kindness pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She added that despite the negativity, considerable good had emerged from the mission, such as spotlight on her scientific work and new advocacy opportunities.

Flight Details

The self-operating spacecraft launched from its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The group of women also comprised experts in multiple disciplines.

The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.