Crew Member Discloses Mental Health Struggle Following ‘Tsunami of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her battle with depression after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

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

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a social media post, recalling a phone call from a fellow crew member in the days following the landing.

She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she confessed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and conducted tests during the mission, said every professional achievement – including her scientific research and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her heritage – was drowned out under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

A Path to Recovery

Months following fulfilling her dream, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the supporters whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she affirmed.

She added that even with the backlash, important benefits had resulted from the flight, such as increased focus on her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket departed Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of space.

The group of women also included experts in multiple disciplines.

The company behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.