Crew Member Shares Depression Following Wave of Backlash Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a pioneering women-only spaceflight.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured well-known figures.

The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, recalling a check-in call from a mission companion in the days following the landing.

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

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she revealed. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and operated research during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was overshadowed under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of victims of sexual violence.

Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after surviving a rape during her university years, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

Finding Solid Ground

In the time since achieving her goal, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She noted that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the flight, such as increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The self-operating spacecraft departed its launch site in April, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that passed the Kármán line of space.

The diverse crew also included leaders in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.