While the public may recognize Blue Origin’s April 14 launch at Launch Site One for its high-profile passenger Katy Perry, another trailblazing woman also made history on that flight: Amanda Nguyen.
Nguyen, a longtime advocate for social justice and the founder of the nonprofit Rise, fulfilled a lifelong dream by traveling to space. The flight was conducted by Blue Origin, a private aerospace company owned by Jeff Bezos and founded in 2000. Like Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the company offers commercial spaceflights to paying customers.
Although ticket prices for the suborbital journey remain undisclosed, the mission has sparked new conversations about the accessibility of space travel and its cultural significance. For Nguyen, the experience was more than a personal milestone — it symbolized hope, representation and the growing democratization of space.
“This trip was extremely important,” said Hidden Valley science teacher Mrs. Blankenship. “Interest in space travel has been rising, and now we’re seeing more public engagement because of flights like this.”
Blankenship also reflected on the implications of commercial space travel for government-funded agencies like NASA. “The effects could vary. It might divert funding from NASA, but on the other hand, competition might push everyone to reach farther into space,” she said. “It could also be very profitable, inciting even more companies to get involved.”
While Katy Perry’s presence drew much of the media attention, many were curious about the rest of the flight’s passengers. Nguyen, in particular, stood out for her contributions to society. She is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, the drafter of the federal Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act, and a staunch advocate for civil rights. With this mission, she also became the first woman of Vietnamese heritage to travel to space.
Nguyen’s journey is a powerful reminder that the diverse faces shaping the future of space exploration are not just billionaires or celebrities, but also changemakers dedicated to making Earth a better place.
