Crew Member Discloses Depression In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Backlash After Historic Trip
A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after facing a relentless barrage of criticism 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 brief journey to space in the spring, which also included celebrity crewmates.
The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.
Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.
“I told her my depression might last for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey.
She portrayed 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 confessed. “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 performed experiments during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her background – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.
She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence.
Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
In the time since reaching space, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the supporters whose kindness were her lifeline. “You all saved me,” she wrote.
She added that despite the negativity, important benefits had emerged from the experience, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.
The Historic Journey
The fully automated spacecraft departed Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from multiple disciplines.
The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a Amazon founder.
