German engineer Michaela Benthaus made history Saturday as the first wheelchair user to travel to space, leaving her wheelchair behind while orbiting Earth on a 10-minute Blue Origin flight. Benthaus, who became paraplegic following a mountain biking accident seven years ago, launched from West Texas alongside five other passengers, including retired SpaceX executive Hans Koenigsmann, who helped organize and sponsor her journey.
“I laughed all the way up,” said Benthaus, describing the flight that soared more than 65 miles (105 kilometers). She even attempted to turn upside down while in microgravity.
The New Shepard capsule required only minor adjustments to accommodate Benthaus, with accessibility features designed to welcome a wider range of passengers than traditional spacecraft, according to Blue Origin engineer Jake Mills. A transfer board allowed her to move between the hatch and her seat, and a carpet was laid on the desert landing site to provide immediate access to her wheelchair.
Benthaus, 33, a graduate trainee with the European Space Agency in the Netherlands, previously experienced brief weightlessness on a parabolic flight in 2022 and participated in a two-week simulated mission in Poland. Despite initial doubts about flying with a disability, she embraced the opportunity when approached by Koenigsmann last year.
The private mission did not involve ESA, although the agency recently cleared John McFall, an amputee, for a future International Space Station flight. Unlike McFall, Benthaus requires assistance to evacuate, with Koenigsmann designated as her in-flight helper.
“Never give up on your dreams,” Benthaus said after landing. She emphasized her mission to promote accessibility in space and on Earth, hoping her flight paves the way for others with disabilities.
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