Space Traveler Discloses Emotional Distress After Wave of Online Abuse Following Journey

A Vietnamese-American astronaut has opened up regarding her emotional downturn after being subjected to a relentless barrage of criticism 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 in April, which also featured celebrity crewmates.

The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the situation, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash eclipsed her moment under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” the astronaut shared in a online statement, recalling a phone call from a mission companion in the days following the flight.

She described 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.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has focused her career on gynecological science and performed experiments during the mission, said everything she had worked for – from her studies and years of training to the symbolic importance of her heritage – was drowned out under the avalanche of gendered attacks.

She is most acclaimed for her groundbreaking advocacy protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

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

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after reaching space, she has stated the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she acknowledged the followers whose messages of encouragement pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She added that amid the criticism, important benefits had emerged from the flight, such as spotlight on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The fully automated New Shepard rocket lifted off from its launch site in the spring, carrying the all-female team on a short trip that passed the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The diverse crew also comprised accomplished professionals from various fields.

The venture behind the mission is a private space firm launched by a Amazon founder.