Amanda Nguyen, the pioneering Vietnamese-American woman astronaut, will be giving the keynote speech at Fulbright University Vietnam’s undergraduate graduation ceremony on June 7th.
The university disclosed her involvement on Saturday, emphasizing Nguyen's pioneering accomplishments as an astronaut and a champion for social justice.
Nguyen shared the news on Instagram with the comment: "See you soon, Vietnam!"
Fulbright Vietnam stated: "Her narrative, which draws power from her Vietnamese roots while attaining worldwide achievements, perfectly matches Fulbright’s mission and this year's graduation theme: ' Roots & Wings.'"
This journey represents Nguyen's inaugural visit to Vietnam since she became the first woman of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian heritage to venture into space on April 14. She made this historic flight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket-capsule system, which is part of the enterprise founded by Amazon’s creator, Jeff Bezos.
The mission launched from West Texas, with an all-female crew that included former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, singer Katy Perry, CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and media executive Lauren Sánchez, Bezos's fiancée.
According to a live stream from Blue Origin, the team crossed the Kármán Line, which marks the official edge of space at an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth, felt weightless for about 11 minutes, and then landed back safely.
|
|
Amanda Nguyen, the inaugural Vietnamese-American female astronaut. Photo courtesy of Fulbright University Vietnam. |
The Vietnamese ambassador to the U.S., Nguyen Quoc Dung, was present at the event and gave Nguyen a gift. letter of congratulations In the letter from Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, she was commended for her groundbreaking journey, serving as an emblem of the remarkable abilities and intelligence of the Vietnamese populace. The president also celebrated her partnership with the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC), noting that this alliance fosters enhanced collaborative efforts between the United States and Vietnam within the realm of space sciences.
During the mission, Nguyen transported 169 lotus seeds. A cultural icon of Vietnam, supplied by VNSC and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, these seeds are anticipated to play a crucial role in post-flight studies aimed at understanding the impact of space travel on plant development.
As he floated in microgravity, Nguyen carried out various scientific experiments, such as testing bandaging materials under zero-gravity conditions, and conveyed a message in his native Vietnamese language.
Greetings from Vietnam! My aim is to inspire Vietnamese young girls to envision themselves among the stars. Though I might be the pioneer, I certainly won’t be the final one,” she stated in a TikTok video shared on April 17th.
Nguyen also revealed that she had dedicated several weeks to rehearsing Vietnamese phrases in preparation, aiming to inspire young girls in her ancestral homeland.
Born in 1991 in the United States, Nguyen graduated from Harvard University. In 2013, she completed an internship at NASA and subsequently worked at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Later, she held the position of deputy White House liaison at the U.S. State Department.
In 2014, she founded Rise, a nonprofit advocating for the civil rights of sexual assault survivors, inspired by her own experiences. For her activism, Nguyen was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
His space journey was supported by Space for Humanity, a non-profit organization that backs citizen astronauts advocating for worldwide issues. Nguyen’s mission highlighted his dedication to supporting survivors and promoting STEM education initiatives.
Posting Komentar