Crew Member Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Backlash Following Journey
A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism in the aftermath 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 earlier this year, which also included high-profile passengers.
The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who challenged its value and environmental footprint.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.
“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a online statement, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the days following the flight.
She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.
“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”
Overshadowed by Sexism
The researcher, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her scientific research and years of training to the historic significance of her background – was buried under the tide of misogyny.
She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of survivors of assault.
Her own goal of reaching space was paused after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability.
The Fog Begins to Lift
Now, eight months after achieving her goal, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose kindness helped save her. “Your support rescued me,” she said.
She noted that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had come out of the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.
Flight Details
The self-operating spacecraft lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a brief suborbital flight that passed the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.
The team of pioneers also included accomplished professionals from different industries.
The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a Amazon founder.