Centennial High School alumna Amanda Nguyễn delivered a powerful and emotional message to survivors of sexual assault after her journey aboard the Blue Origin capsule. Nguyễn was part of the first all-female crew to launch into space from West Texas. The momentous occasion was covered by Hetty Chang for NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 2025, highlighting the notable individuals on this groundbreaking Blue Origin trip.
Amanda Nguyễn, a graduate of Centennial High School in Corona, California, was one of six remarkable women who ascended to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin’s spacecraft. Following the capsule’s successful touchdown in Texas, Nguyễn, a survivor of sexual assault herself, shared a deeply heartfelt message.
Nguyễn is the visionary founder of RISE, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and needs of sexual assault survivors. Her dedication to this cause is profound, and she played a pivotal role in drafting the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act. This landmark bill achieved unanimous passage in the U.S. Congress, a testament to Nguyễn’s tireless efforts and persuasive advocacy.
For Amanda Nguyễn, Monday marked the realization of a long-held dream. The Centennial High School graduate soared to the fringes of space as part of Blue Origin’s historic all-female crew. Upon her return, her message resonated with strength and hope.
“I just want every survivor and every person who’s ever had a dream deferred to know that your dreams are valid,” Nguyễn declared. “And even if your dreams are as wild as going to space, they matter. And you can get there too. If I can get there, you can get there too.”
Nguyễn also shared a photograph capturing the powerful moment she emerged from the capsule, her arms raised triumphantly. This image symbolized not only her personal achievement but also her groundbreaking status as the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman to venture into space.
Beyond her spaceflight, Nguyễn’s impact extends significantly through her work with RISE. As a survivor who describes herself as a “pathological optimist,” she channels her personal experiences into driving systemic change. Her drafting of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act underscores her commitment to ensuring justice and support for those who have experienced sexual violence. In recognition of her impactful legislative work, Nguyễn was nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
During her time at Centennial High School in Corona, her peers recognized her potential for leadership, voting her “Most Likely to Become President.” She continued her academic pursuits at Harvard University, graduating in 2013. Her influence and achievements were further acknowledged in 2022 when she was named a TIME Woman of the Year.
Several other prominent women joined Nguyễn on this historic Blue Origin flight, including the renowned singer Katy Perry, “CBS Mornings” host Gayle King, Lauren Sanchez, a former journalist and the fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Aisha Bowe, a former NASA scientist, and Kerianne Flynn, a movie producer.
The suborbital flight, which lasted approximately ten minutes, propelled the crew to an altitude of about 62 miles after its launch from the Blue Origin base in West Texas. This mission marked the 11th human spaceflight for Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000 and headquartered in Washington state. Bezos himself participated in Blue Origin’s inaugural space tourism flight in 2021 and was present at the launchpad to support the latest crew.
To date, Blue Origin has flown over 50 individuals, primarily from the realms of business, science, television, and online content creation. The ticket prices for these spaceflights have not been publicly disclosed.
Notably, this all-female crew represents a significant milestone in the history of human spaceflight. Prior to this mission, the only other instance of an all-female space crew was in 1963 when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova made a solo flight. Tereshkova holds the distinction of being the first woman in space, spending three days orbiting the Earth. Amanda Nguyễn’s journey with this all-female Blue Origin crew adds a new chapter to the ongoing narrative of women’s contributions to space exploration and serves as an inspiration to survivors and dreamers worldwide.