In a groundbreaking tribute to cultural heritage and justice, astronaut and activist Amanda Nguyen will carry seeds from Sierra Leone’s iconic Cotton Tree aboard Blue Origin’s upcoming NS-31 mission.
This mission, notable for featuring an all-female crew, highlights a commitment to diversity and global unity in space exploration.
Nguyen’s initiative honors Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio’s efforts in securing justice for survivors of sexual violence. Under President Bio’s leadership, Sierra Leone spearheaded and successfully passed the first-ever standalone United Nations resolution on access to justice for survivors of sexual violence in September 2021. The resolution received unanimous support from all 193 member states.
Reflecting on this milestone, Nguyen stated, “In 2021, when I fought for my rights as a survivor at the United Nations, they said it was impossible to get a world leader to champion our cause. But President Bio believed in justice. He directed Sierra Leone to be the lead sponsor of the world’s first standalone General Assembly resolution for rape survivors.”
When Nguyen asked President Bio to choose a symbolic item to take to space in his honor, he selected seeds from the Cotton Tree, a powerful emblem of Sierra Leone’s resilience and history. The Cotton Tree, which stood in Freetown for centuries as a beacon of hope for freed slaves, was tragically felled by a storm in May 2023. By taking its seeds beyond Earth, Nguyen aims to symbolize justice and renewal.
“Justice always finds ground to grow in. The impossible is just an opinion,” she remarked.
The NS-31 mission, set for this spring, will feature an esteemed all-female crew, including journalist Gayle King, singer Katy Perry, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and philanthropist Lauren Sánchez, who organized the mission. This flight marks Blue Origin’s 31st New Shepard mission and its 11th human spaceflight, aiming to inspire future generations through innovation and empowerment.
For Nguyen, this journey fulfills a lifelong dream of space travel while reinforcing her commitment to advocacy. As the founder of the nonprofit Rise, she has played a pivotal role in passing legislation supporting survivors of sexual violence in the United States and worldwide.
Through this historic mission, Nguyen and her fellow astronauts seek to demonstrate that cultural symbols can transcend earthly bounds, carrying messages of resilience and hope into the vastness of space.
