Michaela Benthaus, a 33-year-old German aerospace and mechatronics engineer for the European Space Agency, has just become the first wheelchair user to ever pass by Karman Line – the general demarcation of outer space located at an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level.
Her historic journey aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard capsule took off Saturday morning from the company's launch pad near Van Horn, Texas.
The mission, known as NS-37, is the 16th suborbital space tourism launch by Blue Origin, the Jeff Bezos-funded rocket venture founded in 2000 with the goal of expanding access to space — even for enthusiasts who don't fit the typical image of an astronaut.
“I always wanted to go into space, but I never thought I could do it,” Benthause told CNN before the flight.
“Maybe the place is for people who have a leg amputated but can still walk a little,” Benthause said, wondering before taking a seat in the New Shepard capsule. “Maybe a spinal cord injury is too disabling.”
Benthause, a lifelong adventurer, injured her spinal cord while mountain biking in 2018. She told CNN that from that point on, her enthusiasm for space exploration grew as she focused her attention on engineering and research problems that she could solve while relying on a wheelchair for mobility.
Her flight aboard New Shepard lasted about 10 minutes as the rocket fired its engines to lift Benthaus and her five crew members more than three times the speed of sound and fly past the Karman line.
Michi Benthaus poses after his historic space flight. – From blue origin
Making space accessible
New Shepard is designed to offer passengers several minutes of weightlessness at the top of the flight path as gravity begins to pull the capsule back to Earth.
Benthause told CNN in a pre-flight interview that she planned to use a special strap to tie her legs when she stepped out of her seat to enjoy microgravity and look out the window for a unique view of Earth.
She noted that she had previously experienced microgravity during a parabolic training flight on board an aircraft. So she expected to be more interested in taking in the panoramic views than doing somersaults in the cockpit.
Benthouse also intends to use the knowledge gained to improve the experience for future passengers who may find themselves in a similar situation.
Stepping out of the Blue Origin capsule on Saturday, she noted that the strap worked “pretty well.”
“I really liked the view and the microgravity phase, but I also liked the lift itself,” Benthause said of her experience. “It was so great to feel every step of the climb.”
In addition to a few minutes of weightlessness, New Shepard can also subject passengers to intense g-forces, including up to 5G during the capsule's descent.
She noted before the flight that it was unclear whether she would be able to return to her seat without assistance. Hans Koenigsmanna former SpaceX executive and friend of Benthaus's, flew with her and was trained to provide assistance if needed.
When asked about his experience, Koenigsmann said: “To be honest, I didn't expect it to be so intense. It was more intense than I thought.”
“The movements are slower—they’re slower, but they’re more decisive,” he said.
As part of his space journey, Benthause is raising money for a non-profit organization dedicated to spinal cord injury research. Wings for life.
Jared Isaacman, the billionaire tech entrepreneur who was sworn in this week as NASA's next administrator, praised the mission.
“Congratulations Michie! You've just inspired millions of people to look up and imagine what's possible,” he wrote in a social media post.
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