🔗 Share this article Crew Member Discloses Depression In the Wake of Wave of Online Abuse After Historic Trip The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space. The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured well-known figures. The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact. Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a social media post, referring to a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey. She described the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “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.” Eclipsed by Backlash The researcher, who has conducted studies in female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her scientific research and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was overshadowed under the avalanche of sexist vitriol. She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for survivors of assault. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. The Fog Begins to Lift Months following fulfilling her dream, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote. She concluded that amid the criticism, important benefits had come out of the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism. The Historic Journey The fully automated spacecraft launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the edge of space. The diverse crew also included experts in multiple disciplines. The company behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.
The scientist and activist, a bioastronautics research scientist, was aboard the New Shepard NS-31 rocket in Spring 2025. A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a “tsunami of harassment” in the wake of a landmark journey to the edge of space. The 34-year-old activist – known as a researcher and activist – was part of the 11-minute suborbital flight earlier this year, which also featured well-known figures. The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who cited its expense and ecological impact. Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the intense backlash buried her dreams under an torrent of sexist abuse. “I explained the depression could persist for a long time,” she recounted in a social media post, referring to a supportive conversation from a fellow crew member in the period after the journey. She described the news reports and online discourse as an barrage beyond typical human coping. “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.” Eclipsed by Backlash The researcher, who has conducted studies in female health science and conducted tests during the flight, said every professional achievement – including her scientific research and astronaut training to the symbolic importance of her roots – was overshadowed under the avalanche of sexist vitriol. She is widely recognized for her tireless campaigning fighting for justice for survivors of assault. Her own dream of becoming an astronaut was deferred after being assaulted during her time as a student, leading to a years-long quest for justice. The Fog Begins to Lift Months following fulfilling her dream, she reports that the heaviest sorrow is beginning to clear, and she thanked the well-wishers whose support pulled her through. “You all saved me,” she wrote. She concluded that amid the criticism, important benefits had come out of the mission, including elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism. The Historic Journey The fully automated spacecraft launched from Texas in April, carrying the six-woman crew on a short trip that crossed the edge of space. The diverse crew also included experts in multiple disciplines. The company behind the flight is a private space firm launched by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.