Space Traveler Reveals Depression In the Wake of Wave of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – known as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also carried well-known figures.
The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, referring to a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.
She described 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. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”
Eclipsed by Backlash
The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said every professional achievement – from her studies and years of training to the historic significance of her heritage – was drowned out under the deluge of gendered attacks.
She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her university years, leading to a protracted legal battle.
The Fog Begins to Lift
In the time since reaching space, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the supporters whose support pulled her through. “Your support rescued me,” she said.
She noted that despite the negativity, considerable good had come out of the flight, such as elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
Flight Details
The self-operating New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.
The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.
The company behind the mission is a private space firm founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
