Engineer Becomes First Wheelchair User to Travel to Space in Historic Blue Origin Flight

A German aerospace engineer has made history by becoming the first person who uses a wheelchair to travel into space, marking a milestone for accessibility in human spaceflight.

On December 20, 2025, Michaela Benthaus, a 33-year-old aerospace and mechatronics engineer who sustained a spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident and has used a wheelchair since 2018, flew aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket from West Texas.

The flight, part of Blue Origin’s NS‑37 mission, lasted approximately 10 minutes and carried six passengers past the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space.

During the brief excursion, Benthaus experienced weightlessness and views of Earth’s curvature, fulfilling a lifelong dream of space travel.

Blue Origin, the private space company founded by Jeff Bezos, made minor adjustments to accommodate Benthaus, including the use of a transfer board to help her enter the capsule.

Once in space, she left her wheelchair behind inside the spacecraft and enjoyed several minutes of weightless flight before returning safely to Earth with the rest of the crew.

Benthaus, who works with the European Space Agency, expressed hope that her achievement will open the door for greater inclusivity and accessibility in space exploration for people with disabilities.

Her journey highlights ongoing efforts to broaden participation in space travel beyond traditional astronaut profiles and inspire others with physical challenges to pursue their ambitions beyond the confines of Earth.

Sources: Associated Press, AFP, Sky News, CBS News, NDTV