Michaela Benthaus, a German engineer currently working at the European Space Agency has become the world’s first wheelchair user to travel to space, marking a historic moment for accessibility and private spaceflight.
Michaela, who sustained a spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident seven years ago, flew aboard a Blue Origin suborbital mission on Saturday, reaching the Kármán line — widely recognized as the boundary of space — during a 10-minute flight from West Texas.
Benthaus works at the European Space Agency currently, while talking to media she said the mission fulfilled a long-held dream that once seemed out of reach after her injury. She began pursuing the possibility by contacting retired space engineers online to ask whether becoming an astronaut was still feasible.
One of those engineers, former SpaceX executive Hans Koenigsmann, helped organize the historic flight with Blue Origin, the space tourism company founded by Jeff Bezos. Koenigsmann flew aboard the mission and was seated near Benthaus to provide assistance if needed.
“It was the coolest experience,” Benthaus said after landing in a video released by Blue Origin. She said she enjoyed not only the view and weightlessness, but also the ascent. “Every stage of going up was so cool.”
According to BBC, the New Shepard reusable rocket lifted off at 14:15 GMT, carrying Benthaus and five other passengers on Blue Origin’s 16th suborbital space tourism flight. The capsule briefly crossed into space before returning safely to Earth.
Benthaus entered the capsule independently from her wheelchair using a bench that extended from the hatch. Blue Origin said additional ground support equipment was installed to help her board and exit the spacecraft.
Following her injury, Benthaus said she became more aware of the barriers faced by people with disabilities. “I really, really figured out how inaccessible our world still is,” she said.
Koenigsmann said Benthaus’ determination inspired him to help make the flight possible. “It’s her drive that convinced me to do this,” he said.
“Michaela’s flight is particularly meaningful, demonstrating that space is for everyone,” said Phil Joyce, senior vice president of New Shepard. “We are proud to help her achieve this dream.”
The cost of the mission was not disclosed. Blue Origin has flown dozens of private passengers to space as competition intensifies among commercial space companies. In April, a separate Blue Origin mission carried six women, including pop star Katy Perry and media personality Gayle King, on a similar flight.
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