Astronaut Shares Emotional Distress In the Wake of Deluge of Harassment Post-Spaceflight

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after being subjected to a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in April, which also carried high-profile passengers.

The mission was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who was celebrated as the pioneer for her community, stated the negative reaction eclipsed her moment under an torrent of sexist abuse.

“I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a online statement, referring to a check-in call from a fellow crew member in the days following the journey.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an “onslaught no human brain has evolved to endure”.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Buried Under Misogyny

The researcher, who has focused her career on female health science and performed experiments during the flight, said every professional achievement – from her scientific research and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her background – was drowned out under the tide of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her pioneering work protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was deferred after an attack 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 followers whose messages of encouragement helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she wrote.

She added that even with the backlash, important benefits had emerged from the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

The Historic Journey

The computer-piloted New Shepard rocket launched from its launch site in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a brief suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line of space.

The diverse crew also featured leaders in multiple disciplines.

The enterprise behind the flight is a private space firm founded by a Amazon founder.