On April 14, 2025, Amanda Nguyen made history as the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman to journey into space. Aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, she joined an all-female crew for a suborbital flight that soared beyond the Kármán line, the recognized boundary of space.
Amanda Nguyen’s path to the stars was shaped by resilience and advocacy. In 2013, while pursuing her degree at Harvard University, she survived a sexual assault. This traumatic experience propelled her into activism, leading her to draft the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, which was unanimously passed by the U.S. Congress in 2016. Her efforts earned her a nomination for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize and recognition as one of TIME’s Women of the Year in 2022.
Nguyen’s passion for space was reignited through her scientific pursuits. In 2021, she became a scientist-astronaut candidate at the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences, focusing on women’s health and menstruation in space.
The Blue Origin NS-31 mission marked a significant milestone as the first all-female crewed spaceflight. Alongside Nguyen were pop star Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, philanthropist Lauren Sánchez, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. The mission lasted approximately 11 minutes, during which the crew experienced weightlessness and breathtaking views of Earth.
During the flight, Nguyen conducted two scientific experiments: one in collaboration with the Vietnamese National Space Center on plant pathology, and another focusing on women’s health, specifically menstruation.
Upon returning to Earth, Nguyen shared an emotional message:
“In this moment, I just want all survivors to know: You can heal. No dream is too wild, and if it’s so wild and out there — like going to space — you can absolutely make it through, and it can absolutely be possible.”
Nguyen’s journey from advocacy to astronaut serves as an inspiration to many. Her story underscores the importance of resilience, determination, and the belief that no dream is too ambitious.
