Space Traveler Discloses Depression Following Wave of Online Abuse Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the wake of a historic all-female space mission.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the short-duration mission in the spring, which also featured high-profile passengers.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.

She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy 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 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 gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her lab work and astronaut training to the historic significance of her roots – was drowned out under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

Her own goal of reaching space was deferred after an attack during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she has stated the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she acknowledged the well-wishers whose messages of encouragement were her lifeline. “You were my salvation,” she affirmed.

She noted that despite the negativity, important benefits had emerged from the mission, including increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of outer space.

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

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