Amanda Nguyen is set to become the first Vietnamese woman to fly into space—a historic achievement on its own. But what makes this moment truly extraordinary is the powerful story behind it: a journey of resilience, justice, and unshakable advocacy for Asian American and survivor rights.
Amanda’s life changed forever in 2013 when she was sexually assaulted while attending Harvard. Frustrated by a legal system that failed to protect her, she fought back—not just for herself, but for countless others. Filing lawsuits as “Jane Doe,” she refused to accept a law that denied her justice. Instead, she turned her pain into purpose, founding Rise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil rights protections for survivors of sexual violence.
Through Rise, Amanda played a key role in passing the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act, and her tireless advocacy work for both survivors and Asian American communities earned her global recognition. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and named Time Woman of the Year in 2022.
Despite the trauma she endured, Amanda never let go of her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. Now, at 32, she will finally see that dream take flight as she joins Space for Humanity’s Citizen Astronaut Program, making her the first Vietnamese American woman to fly into space.
According to Space for Humanity, the mission aims to “empower each citizen astronaut to address global challenges with a broader outlook.” Amanda will launch aboard a New Shepard rocket by Blue Origin, a U.S.-based aerospace company and spaceflight provider.
In a heartfelt video shared by the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, Amanda spoke in Vietnamese:
“I am Vietnamese. I’m flying to space so that young Vietnamese women can see themselves among the stars. What’s important for me is that I can carry my community by my side. I might be the first, but I will not be the last.”
