In defense of Amanda Nguyen, who actually did something on the Blue Origin flight
The activist became the first Vietnamese woman in space and used her time on the trip to conduct several science experiments
Amanda Nguyen landing after Blue Origin flight.
Blue Origin Media
Words by Daniel Anderson
When Blue Origin launched its all-female space crew on April 14, the Internet didn’t see empowerment, it saw content. The 11-minute suborbital joyride quickly became meme fodder, especially as Katy Perry and Gayle King (both on the flight) were filmed dramatically kissing the ground upon landing. Perry’s space suit glam, King’s now-infamous “have you been to space?” retort, and the overall spectacle gave celebs and brands alike a buffet of cringe to roast. Even Wendy’s joined the pile-on. And to be clear—I get it. The backlash isn’t unwarranted. This trip had all the markings of an expensive PR stunt: hated billionaire and his fiancé buying goodwill, but with an overwhelming lack of, well, actual science. I’m not here to defend Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez, or whatever that post-landing media circus was supposed to be. I enjoyed the clip of Bezos tripping maybe more than I should have.
But I am here to talk about one person onboard who was the exception. One woman who, amid the noise, actually used her seat to advance something meaningful. Amanda Nguyen didn’t just float around for the camera. She brought science, symbolism, and serious purpose to that flight. And she deserves her flowers.
Nguyen’s seat on this flight wasn’t a vanity gig or a billionaire favor. It was the culmination of a life shaped by science, service, and survival. The daughter of Vietnamese boat refugees who used the stars to chart their way to freedom, Nguyen grew up looking at those same stars with wonder. She studied astrophysics at Harvard University, interned at NASA, and worked on major projects including the Kepler exoplanet mission and STS-135, the final space shuttle flight.
But her path was brutally interrupted. After being raped in college, Nguyen discovered how broken the justice system was for survivors. Instead of continuing her NASA trajectory, she put her astronaut dreams on pause and picked up a pen. She drafted what became the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, a piece of legislation that passed unanimously in U.S. Congress and at the United Nations. That law now protects more than a billion people worldwide.
For that work, Nguyen was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and named TIME Woman of the Year in 2022. But for her, space was never out of reach. She spent the last four years training at the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences, graduating at the top of her class. So when Blue Origin offered her a chance to fly, she wasn’t there to take selfies or make headlines—she was there to do what astronauts are supposed to do: science.
Nguyen’s contributions onboard were far from symbolic. In partnership with the Vietnamese National Space Center and the Philippine Space Agency, she conducted two microgravity experiments. One focused on women’s health—specifically, how fluid dynamics in space impact the absorbency of materials like bamboo-based sanitary pads. The other involved Southeast Asian brassica rapa seeds, studying how microgravity affects plant pathology.
Her mission also carried symbolic weight. This month marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. Nguyen’s journey from the daughter of refugees to the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman in space isn’t just about science. It’s about reconciliation. It’s about turning pain into purpose.
Yes, much of the Blue Origin flight deserved criticism. But let’s be honest, Nguyen wasn’t the problem. She was the exception. Amid the optics and opportunism, she was there with data, purpose, and legacy in hand.
Published on April 21, 2025
Words by Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson is a disabled Chinese American adoptee based in Seattle. His freelance writing specialties include K-pop, entertainment, and food. He believes that any restaurant can be a buffet, and the key to success is to take a nap each day. Follow his adventures on Instagram @danzstan.