Amanda Nguyen is about to make history. This Vietnamese-American civil rights activist and sexual assault survivor will become the first Vietnamese woman to journey into space. Her remarkable path to the stars proves that even in the face of trauma and injustice, dreams can still take flight.
Amanda was inspired to become an astronaut as a child, but her dreams were put on hold when she was raped while attending Harvard. In a shocking twist, she learned that Massachusetts law allowed her rape kit to be destroyed after just six months unless she filed requests to extend its preservation. Nguyen described this demand to constantly revisit the date of her assault as a painful burden.
This infuriating system inspired her to fight back. “At the crossroads of justice or my astronaut dream, I chose justice,” Nguyen explains. She founded Rise, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors. In just two months, her tireless efforts inspired sweeping reforms in Massachusetts.
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Nguyen’s influence rapidly extended throughout the country, culminating in the groundbreaking Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act, which was unanimously passed and signed into law by President Obama in 2016.
Nguyen is also a fierce advocate for Asian-American rights, calling attention to violence against her community. Her impact was so powerful it prompted President Biden to condemn anti-Asian hatred in his first prime-time address.
These achievements have earned her recognition including a 2019 Nobel Peace Prize nomination and being named Time Magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2022.
Reaching for the Stars
Now, through the Space for Humanity Citizen Astronaut Program, Amanda Nguyen’s astronaut dreams are finally coming true. “I am thrilled to be partnered with Space for Humanity, not just for their support, but also their vision and values,” Nguyen said.
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“Together, we’re committed to changing the way we all think about the cosmos, each other, and humanity’s future. I might be the first [Vietnamese woman in space], but I will not be the last,” she declares proudly.
Nguyen will blast off aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, her extraordinary journey a beacon of hope for survivors and those who dare to fight for a better world.
