Crew Member Shares Depression Following Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space earlier this year, which also featured well-known figures.

The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the period after the flight.

She described the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “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 female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said every professional achievement – from her lab work and astronaut training to the historic significance of her roots – was buried under the avalanche of misogyny.

She is best known for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault.

Her own goal of reaching space was paused after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.

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

Flight Details

The fully automated spacecraft departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The team of pioneers also featured experts in various fields.

The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a Amazon founder.