Space Traveler Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of ‘Tsunami of Backlash Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a historic all-female space mission.

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

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who became the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an “avalanche of misogyny”.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a public message, recalling a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the landing.

She characterized the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “Even a month on, a phone call ended with me hanging up, weeping uncontrollably.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said all her lifelong efforts – including her studies and years of training to the personal milestone of her roots – was buried under the tide of sexist vitriol.

She is most acclaimed for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for victims of sexual violence.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after an attack during her college days, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

In the time since achieving her goal, she noted the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the followers whose support helped save her. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

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

Flight Details

The fully automated New Shepard rocket departed Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the edge of space.

The group of women also featured experts in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the mission is a commercial aerospace company established by a Amazon founder.