🔗 Share this article Space Traveler Reveals Emotional Distress After Deluge of Backlash After Historic Trip The scientist and activist, a women's health researcher, was a passenger on the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” 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 short-duration mission earlier this year, which also included high-profile passengers. The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint. Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the days following the journey. She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol. She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability. Finding Solid Ground In the time since fulfilling her dream, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the supporters whose support pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she said. She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that passed the edge of space. The team of pioneers also featured leaders in various fields. The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.
The scientist and activist, a women's health researcher, was a passenger on the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a “tsunami of harassment” 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 short-duration mission earlier this year, which also included high-profile passengers. The much-publicized journey was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and carbon footprint. Reflecting on the experience, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an “avalanche of misogyny”. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” Ms. Nguyen stated in a social media post, referring to a supportive conversation from a mission companion in the days following the journey. She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she confessed. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Buried Under Misogyny The researcher, who has conducted studies in women's health research and conducted tests during the flight, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol. She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of victims of sexual violence. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability. Finding Solid Ground In the time since fulfilling her dream, she noted the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she thanked the supporters whose support pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she said. She added that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had resulted from the experience, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and new advocacy opportunities. About the Mission The fully automated spacecraft lifted off from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that passed the edge of space. The team of pioneers also featured leaders in various fields. The company behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company founded by a well-known tech mogul.