“The Trailblazer: Amanda Nguyen’s Journey to the Stars”

The world is about to witness a historic moment as Space for Humanity, a non-profit organization, announces that Amanda Nguyen, a 2019 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, will be flying into space aboard the New Shepard rocket from Blue Origin, an American aerospace company. The flight date has not yet been revealed, but the anticipation is building.

Amanda Nguyen, a 32-year-old woman of Vietnamese heritage, born to Vietnamese parents and raised in California, has an impressive academic and professional background. She graduated from Harvard University and interned at NASA in 2013, followed by a stint at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. It was her exposure to the Overview Effect, a cognitive shift experienced by astronauts viewing Earth from space, that ignited her passion for the universe.

Nguyen eloquently describes the Overview Effect as “an experience that many astronauts have when they go to space for the first time… It’s an orbital perspective that every living being is on this pale blue dot.” She further explains how astronauts, initially technical scientists, return to Earth as activists driven by a compulsion to engage in humanitarian work. Inspired by this phenomenon, Nguyen chose to collaborate with Space for Humanity’s Citizen Astronaut Program, guided by the same principle.

The Citizen Astronaut Program is not for the faint-hearted. Prospective candidates must navigate a rigorous three-round selection process. The initial phase involves submitting an online application showcasing their passion, personal mission, and involvement in leadership and community development initiatives. Fluency in English, strong community leadership skills, effective communication abilities, and a proven track record of positive impact are essential for success.

In addition to these skills, candidates for the program should demonstrate empathy, self-honesty, a willingness to embrace new experiences, and a genuine desire to undergo the Overview Effect. Above all, they must be committed to the objectives of the Citizen Astronaut Program. As Nguyen insightfully shares, “Space for Humanity looks for individuals with a passion for space, but they also seek people who can leverage this spaceflight to elevate their work and their community.”

For the past three years, Nguyen has dedicated herself to intensive astronaut training at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences in Florida. She has endured rigorous academic and physical exams, including high G-force flights, space egress simulations, survival systems training, and hyperbaric chamber tests. Despite initial concerns about losing consciousness during high G-force flight tests, Nguyen discovered an unexpected advantage due to her shorter stature, reducing the risk of fainting.

Time Magazine recognized Amanda Nguyen as Woman of the Year in 2022, and her achievements extend beyond space exploration. Before embarking on this historic space mission, Nguyen was known for her unwavering advocacy for the rights of sexual assault victims and her efforts to address hate crimes against Asian Americans. Her journey as an activist began over a decade ago when she put her dream of becoming an astronaut on hold after experiencing sexual assault during her senior year at Harvard University.

This traumatic event brought to light the injustices within the U.S. legal system, particularly the destruction of rape kits after six months if victims did not request an extension, despite a 15-year statute of limitations in Massachusetts. Taking immediate action, Nguyen drafted and advocated for the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights, which was passed by the U.S. Congress in 2016 and signed into law by President Barack Obama.

The law entitles victims to retain forensic evidence at no cost within the statute of limitations and ensures they receive clear notification before the destruction of their rape kits. In December 2021, Rise, a non-profit organization founded by Nguyen in 2014, presented an exhibition titled ‘What were you wearing?’ at the United Nations headquarters. This powerful display featured 103 outfits worn by abuse victims, representing 1.3 billion sexual assault survivors worldwide.

Nguyen’s advocacy efforts reached a historic milestone in 2022 when the United Nations adopted a landmark resolution granting access to justice for survivors of sexual violence. This was the UN’s first standalone motion recognizing rape in peacetime. “Vietnam voted in favor of my organization’s United Nations General Assembly Resolution for survivors,” Nguyen shared, expressing her deep connection to her community in Vietnam.

In addition to her advocacy work, Nguyen plans to publish a memoir in 2025, chronicling her journey as an activist. “I chose justice,” she said, reflecting on her decision to put her dreams on hold for a greater cause. “For 10 years, I traded my telescope for a pen to draft laws protecting survivors.” Now, having overcome these challenges, she returns to her dream of reaching for the stars, inspired by a desire to uplift her community.

When asked about her motivation to resume space exploration, Nguyen simply replied, “Healing.” She explained that healing involves honoring who she was before the hurt and that her journey into space is a way to reconnect with her dreams and inspire others. “I fly into space so that Vietnamese girls can imagine themselves among the stars,” she said, determined to be the first but not the last woman of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian origin to achieve this feat.

Amanda Nguyen’s connection to Vietnam is a source of immense pride for her. Growing up in the United States to Vietnamese immigrant parents, her understanding of Vietnam was shaped by American movies and family narratives, often centered around war. Driven by a desire to connect with her mother’s roots, she embarked on a journey to Vietnam, visiting her hometown of Bac Lieu Province in the Mekong Delta and meeting relatives, an experience she cherishes.

Nguyen shared her realization about the plants her mother nurtured in California, which turned out to be native to Vietnam. This discovery led her to reflect on the deeper meaning of heritage and the impact of war on generations. “Vietnam means heritage to me,” she said, emphasizing the importance of the people who have shaped this heritage.

Nguyen was raised with Vietnamese values, speaking Vietnamese as her first language and embracing Vietnamese culture and traditions. Her family’s dedication to their heritage is evident in their daily lives, from the food they eat to the celebration of Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Visiting Vietnam, Nguyen was captivated by the beauty of Ninh Binh, a province in northern Vietnam, and she felt deeply grateful for the warm welcome she received from the Vietnamese people.

Nguyen proudly displayed Vietnamese souvenirs from her trip, including a traditional white áo dài, a pearl from Ha Long Bay, and various handicrafts. She also shared how her journey reminded her of Vietnam’s tradition of valuing education, a cultural trait that took her to Harvard University and now propels her toward the stars. While her parents initially struggled to accept her choice to become a civil rights activist and an astronaut, they eventually came around, and she knows they are proud of her now.

Reflecting on her achievement as the first woman of Vietnamese descent to journey into space, Nguyen expressed gratitude for her Vietnamese heritage and the support of her community. She celebrated with her community in the U.S. by enjoying bánh xèo, a traditional Vietnamese dish, and was touched by the response from her community in Vietnam. Nguyen’s message to Vietnamese women is one of empowerment: “You can be anything you want to be. Our dreams matter, we matter, and we can make it through.”

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