🔗 Share this article Space Traveler Reveals Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Harassment Following Journey The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was onboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in April 2025. A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space. The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also carried high-profile passengers. The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a public message, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing. She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Eclipsed by Backlash Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and years of training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks. She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose support pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote. She noted that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the experience, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism. About the Mission The fully automated spacecraft launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of space. The group of women also included experts in multiple disciplines. The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.
The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was onboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in April 2025. A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after facing a relentless barrage of criticism in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space. The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also carried high-profile passengers. The high-profile flight was met with derision by some, who cited its expense and environmental footprint. Reflecting on the ordeal, Ms. Nguyen, who made history as the first Vietnamese woman in space, stated the negative reaction buried her dreams under an landslide of gendered hatred. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a public message, describing a check-in call from a mission companion in the aftermath of the landing. She characterized the press attention and digital reaction as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.” Eclipsed by Backlash Ms. Nguyen, who has dedicated her work to female health science and conducted tests during the mission, said everything she had worked for – including her scientific research and years of training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks. She is most acclaimed for her pioneering work championing the cause of victims of sexual violence. Her own aspiration for spaceflight was paused after an attack during her college days, leading to a long campaign for accountability. A Path to Recovery Now, eight months after reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she thanked the followers whose support pulled her through. “You were my salvation,” she wrote. She noted that amid the criticism, considerable good had emerged from the experience, including elevated attention for her scientific work and platforms for her activism. About the Mission The fully automated spacecraft launched from Texas in the spring, carrying the historic roster on a 11-minute journey that exceeded the Kármán line of space. The group of women also included experts in multiple disciplines. The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm established by a Amazon founder.