Astronaut Shares Depression After Wave of Backlash Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has spoken candidly about her struggle with mental health 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 featured high-profile passengers.

The mission was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and carbon footprint.

Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” the astronaut shared in a social media post, recalling a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the flight.

She portrayed the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“I did not leave Texas for a week, unable to get out of bed,” she revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has dedicated her work to women's health research and performed experiments during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her lab work and astronaut training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is best known for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after being assaulted during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since reaching space, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she expressed gratitude the supporters whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she said.

She added that amid the criticism, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

About the Mission

The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in the spring, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the edge of space.

The group of women also featured leaders in various fields.

The company behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.