Wheelchair Astronaut: For the first time, a wheelchair user reached space… Historic achievement of Blue Origin
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s space company Blue Origin has created history. German engineer Michaela Benthaus became the world’s first wheelchair user to go to space. On Saturday, December 20, she left for suborbital flight through the New Shepard Mission (NS-37) of the aerospace company, Blue Origin, and reached space by crossing the Kármán Line (about 100 km altitude).
This flight took place on December 20, 2025 from the West Texas Launch Site in Texas. There were six passengers on board the NS-37 Mission. In this suborbital flight of about 10 minutes, the passengers experienced weightlessness for a few minutes and saw an amazing view of the Earth.
The inspiring story of Michaela Benthouse
Michaela Benthouse, 33, is an aerospace and mechatronics engineer at the European Space Agency (ESA). In 2018, her spinal cord was damaged in a mountain biking accident, after which she became paraplegic. Started using wheelchair. However, even after the accident, his dream of going to space remained alive. He contacted former SpaceX engineer Hans Koenigsmann on LinkedIn. Hans helped him. Sponsored this flight with Blue Origin. After landing, Michaela said that I am very grateful that Blue Origin and Hans said yes to this trip. It was the most wonderful experience.
How were the flight arrangements?
Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule is already designed for the disabled. There is a lift in the launch tower. Not much change was needed in the capsule. A special transfer board was added for Michaela, so she could transfer herself from the wheelchair to the capsule. He used special straps to keep his legs safe during weightlessness. After landing, the recovery team spread carpet on the ground so that his wheelchair could be immediately available.
other crew members
- Hans Koenigsmann (former SpaceX executive)
- joey hyde
- adonis paurolis
- jason stansell
- Neil Milch
Importance of this achievement
This flight is a big step towards making space travel more inclusive. Michaela said that she wants to show the world that even wheelchair users can fly in suborbital flight. Before this, Blue Origin has sent people with limited mobility to space, but a wheelchair user went for the first time.
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos wants to open space to everyone. This was the company’s 16th manned mission and has sent a total of 92 people to space. This success is an inspiration for the disabled and shows that dreams do not stop with any obstacle. Michaela’s journey marks the beginning of a new era of space exploration.
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