Space Traveler Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Harassment Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also featured well-known figures.
The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a public message, referring to a phone call from a mission companion in the period after the journey.
She described the press attention and digital reaction as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her background – was drowned out under the deluge of sexist vitriol.
She is widely recognized for her pioneering work fighting for justice for survivors of assault.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was paused after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Months following achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose support helped save her. “You all saved me,” she affirmed.
She added that despite the negativity, considerable good had emerged from the flight, including elevated attention for her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.
The Historic Journey
The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that passed the edge of space.
The diverse crew also featured accomplished professionals from different industries.
The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company launched by a well-known tech mogul.
