Crew Member Reveals Mental Health Struggle In the Wake of Wave of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse 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 brief journey to space earlier this year, which also included well-known figures.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a social media post, referring to a check-in call from a mission companion in the period after the journey.

She portrayed the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping.

“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 conducted studies in female health science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her background – was buried under the deluge of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was put on hold after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

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 pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She noted that despite the negativity, important benefits had come out of the mission, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a 11-minute journey that crossed the Kármán line of space.

The team of pioneers also comprised accomplished professionals from various fields.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a well-known tech mogul.