Crew Member Discloses Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of Deluge of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after facing a “tsunami of harassment” 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 brief journey to space earlier this year, which also included high-profile passengers.

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, 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,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a fellow crew member in the aftermath of the landing.

She portrayed 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. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and operated research during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and years of training to the historic significance of her background – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the supporters whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She concluded that despite the negativity, considerable good had come out of the experience, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

The diverse crew also included accomplished professionals from various fields.

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