A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.
The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission earlier this year, which also featured high-profile passengers.
The much-publicized journey was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the situation, Ms. Nguyen, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.
“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, recalling a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the days following the journey.
She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said every professional achievement – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her heritage – was buried under the deluge of gendered attacks.
She is best known for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for survivors of assault.
Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the supporters whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “Your support rescued me,” she wrote.
She concluded that despite the negativity, important benefits had emerged from the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities.
The computer-piloted spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of outer space.
The diverse crew also featured leaders in different industries.
The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
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