Astronaut Discloses Depression Following Deluge of Online Abuse After Historic Trip

A pioneering space traveler has publicly detailed her emotional downturn after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

The 34-year-old activist – celebrated as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight in April, which also carried well-known figures.

The high-profile flight was heavily criticized by some, who questioned its cost and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who made history as the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a social media post, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the days following the landing.

She described the news reports and online discourse as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“Stuck in Texas, I spent a week unable to rise from my bed,” she wrote. “A month later… I had to hang up… because I could not speak through my tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

The researcher, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and operated research during the mission, said every professional achievement – from her lab work and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her background – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning protecting the rights of survivors of assault.

Her own aspiration for spaceflight was put on hold after surviving a rape during her time as a student, leading to a long campaign for accountability.

The Fog Begins to Lift

In the time since reaching space, she reports that the deepest pain is gradually receding, and she acknowledged the supporters whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote.

She concluded that even with the backlash, significant positive outcomes had emerged from the mission, including increased focus on her scientific work and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The self-operating New Shepard rocket departed its launch site in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the Kármán line of space.

The team of pioneers also featured experts in multiple disciplines.

The venture behind the flight is a commercial aerospace company established by a well-known tech mogul.