Space Traveler Discloses Emotional Distress After Deluge of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.
The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured celebrity crewmates.
The mission was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, describing a phone call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the journey.
She portrayed the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her background – was overshadowed under the tide of sexist vitriol.
She is best known for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own goal of reaching space was put on hold after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
A Path to Recovery
Now, eight months after reaching space, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, including elevated attention for her scientific work and chances to influence leaders.
The Historic Journey
The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.
The group of women also comprised leaders in various fields.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a Amazon founder.
