Crew Member Shares Emotional Distress After Wave of Backlash Post-Spaceflight
A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after enduring a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space.
The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in the spring, which also included well-known figures.
The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.
Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, referring to a phone call from a fellow crew member in the days following the journey.
She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an barrage beyond typical human coping.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and operated research during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was overshadowed under the deluge of misogyny.
She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after surviving a rape during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Months following achieving her goal, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She noted that even with the backlash, important benefits had come out of the mission, such as spotlight on her women's health research and chances to influence leaders.
Flight Details
The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The diverse crew also included experts in different industries.
The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
