Trailblazer in Space: First Wheelchair User Hits the Stars

Sun Dec 21 2025 05:36:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Michaela Benthaus makes history as the first wheelchair user to travel to space, highlighting the importance of accessibility and representation in the field of space exploration.

Michaela Benthaus, an engineer from Germany, has made history as the first wheelchair user to travel to space. The flight was organized in collaboration with a retired space engineer, showcasing that dreams of space exploration can be realized by individuals with disabilities. Following her spinal cord injury seven years ago, Benthaus's journey emphasizes the demand for greater accessibility in both earthly and extraterrestrial environments.

An engineer from Germany has become the world's first wheelchair user to go into space. Michaela Benthaus, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a mountain bike accident seven years ago, reached out to a retired space engineer online to see if her dream of being an astronaut was still possible.

The retired engineer helped organize the historic 10-minute flight with Blue Origin, the space tourism company founded by Jeff Bezos. Ms. Benthaus and five others blasted off from Texas and reached a point just above the so-called boundary of space, known as the Kármán line.

It was the coolest experience! she exclaimed after landing in a video shared by Blue Origin. I didn't only like the view and the micro-gravity, but I also liked going up. That was so cool, every stage of going up.

New Shepard, Blue Origin's reusable sub-orbital launch vehicle, took off from the company's Texas launch pad at 14:15 GMT. Ms. Benthaus, who works at the European Space Agency, expressed that she had really, really figured out how inaccessible our world still is for people with disabilities since her accident.

She made her own way from her wheelchair into the capsule, using a bench extending from the hatch, and was assisted by Hans Koenigsmann, a retired SpaceX manager who helped organize the trip.

I met Hans for the first time online, Ms. Benthaus recounted. I just asked him, like, you know, you worked for so long for SpaceX, do you think that people like me can be astronauts? Koenigsmann shared that Ms. Benthaus basically inspired me to do this. It's her drive that kind of convinced me I should do that, too, and to just experience something that I've seen from the outside for a long time.

Blue Origin ensured that ground support equipment was added to help Ms. Benthaus enter and exit the capsule, demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity. Phil Joyce, senior vice-president of New Shepard, stated, Michi's flight is particularly meaningful, demonstrating that space is for everyone, and we are proud to help her achieve this dream.

The cost of the mission has not been disclosed, adding to the 16 suborbital space tourism launches carried out by Blue Origin. The company has previously taken dozens of tourists to space, amid an increasing competition for dominance in the space tourism industry.

}