Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress Following Deluge of Online Abuse Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the aftermath of the flight.

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 revealed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on women's health research and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her background – was overshadowed under the deluge of sexist vitriol.

She is best known for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

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

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she said.

She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, such as spotlight on her scientific work and chances to influence leaders.

About the Mission

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that passed the Kármán line of space.

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

The enterprise behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a Amazon founder.