Trigger warning: sexual assault, description of a rape kit
A rape survivor will become the first female Vietnamese astronaut to go to space. Her journey has led to her being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, as well as creating a platform to advocate for other victims of sexual assault and advancing US laws.
32-year-old Amanda Nguyen, a civil rights activist, is set to fly to space on a Blue Origin New Shepard, becoming the first Vietnamese woman in the world to achieve the milestone.
Highlights
- Amanda Nguyen, a survivor of sexual assault, is to become the first Vietnamese woman astronaut.
- Amanda's work led to the Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act, signed by Obama.
In a video released by the US Embassy in Vietnam on Thursday (March 28), Amanda, who is also American, said in Vietnamese: "I am Vietnamese.
"I’m flying to space so that young Vietnamese women can see themselves among the stars.
"What’s important for me is that I can carry my community by my side.
"I might be the first, but I will not be the last."
32-year-old Amanda Nguyen, a survivor of sexual assault, will become the first female Vietnamese astronaut to go to space
Image credits: amandangocnguyen
Amanda is part of the Citizen Astronaut Program, a program run by Space for Humanity, where leaders from any walk of life can apply for an opportunity to go to space, the program’s official website states.
"I am thrilled to be partnered with Space for Humanity, not just for their support, but also their vision and values," Amanda said.
She continued: "Together, we're committed to changing the way we all think about the cosmos, each other, and humanity's future.
"I look forward to my journey to space as well as our continued journey to a brighter and better future."
The activist is known for her work on the Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act and advocacy for Asian American rights.
As a student at Harvard University, the 2022 Time Woman of the Year was raped on campus, putting a halt on her plans of “studying the stars” and instead prompting her to focus on bringing about justice for herself and other victims.
Image credits: achanoi
"My rape kit took six hours in the hospital," the resilient woman said in a video about her survival journey on her website.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (Rainn), a sexual assault forensic exam, commonly referred to as a “rape kit,” may take a few hours, with the time also varying based on several different factors.
The procedure, aimed at collecting DNA evidence to conduct an investigation and ultimately finding the predator, includes a head-to-toe examination.
Rainn states: "This part of the exam may be based on your specific experience, which is why it is important to give an accurate history.
"It may include a full body examination, including internal examinations of the mouth, vagina, and/or anus.
"It may also include taking samples of blood, urine, swabs of body surface areas, and sometimes hair samples.
"The trained professional performing the exam may take pictures of your body to document injuries and the examination."
Amanda put a stop to her astronaut dreams after being raped in university, dedicating a decade to changing laws to help other victims
Image credits: amandangocnguyen
“With your permission, they may also collect items of clothing, including undergarments.
“Any other forms of physical evidence that are identified during the examination may be collected and packaged for analysis, such as a torn piece of the perpetrator’s clothing, a stray hair, or debris.”
In her gut-wrenching video, Amanda recalled that the government could destroy her evidence, untested, after six months.
“I felt betrayed by the very system that was supposed to protect me,” she wrote.
Amanda was subsequently involved in proposing and drafting the Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act, which passed unanimously in Congress before being signed into law by former US President Barack Obama on October 7, 2016.
The legislation established statutory rights in the federal code for survivors of sexual assault and rape, impacting nearly 25 million estimated rape survivors in the US.
The law now overhauls the way that rape kits are processed, and survivors of sexual assault are now given the right to have a rape kit preserved for the length of the case's statute of limitations, to be notified of an evidence kit's destruction, and to be informed about results of forensic exams.
After nearly a decade of already making history, Amanda is now set for a whole new pivotal moment.
Taking to her Instagram page on Tuesday (March 26), Amanda made the groundbreaking announcement that she was going to space.
“As boat refugees, my family looked to the stars to guide their way to freedom,” the astronaut said in a touching video.
She continued: “Mom, you swam so I can fly.
“You crossed the ocean so I can touch the sky.”
Amanda's announcement left many people emotional and happy for her
