A New Era in Space Travel: The First Wheelchair User Soars Beyond Earth

Michaela Benthaus, a 33-year-old German engineer, made history by becoming the first wheelchair user to cross the Kármán Line, the boundary marking the edge of outer space. This groundbreaking journey took place aboard a Blue Origin New Shepard capsule, launching from Texas on a Saturday morning. The mission, labeled NS-37, marked the 16th suborbital space tourism flight by Blue Origin, a company founded in 2000 with the vision of making space accessible to everyone, regardless of physical ability. Benthaus, who works at the European Space Agency, has always been passionate about space. However, she initially doubted that her dreams of traveling to space could become a reality. She wondered if space travel was only for those with certain physical abilities. But her perspective changed after a mountain biking accident in 2018 left her with a spinal cord injury. This incident fueled her determination to pursue her passions and contribute to space exploration despite her mobility challenges. The flight lasted about 10 minutes, during which the rocket accelerated to over three times the speed of sound, propelling Benthaus and her five crewmates past the Kármán Line. New Shepard is designed to provide passengers with a few minutes of weightlessness at the peak of their journey. Benthaus planned to use a special strap to secure her legs as she floated in microgravity, allowing her to enjoy the stunning views of Earth from space.Benthaus had previously experienced microgravity during a parabolic training flight, so she was more interested in taking in the panoramic views than performing flips in the cabin. She also aimed to use her experience to improve the space travel experience for future passengers with similar mobility challenges. After the flight, she noted that the strap worked "quite well" and that she loved every moment of the ascent. The New Shepard capsule can subject passengers to intense G forces, including up to 5Gs during descent. Benthaus was unsure if she would be able to return to her seat without assistance. Hans Koenigsmann, a former SpaceX executive and friend of Benthaus, flew alongside her and was trained to provide help if needed. Koenigsmann described the experience as more intense than he had anticipated, with slower but more forceful movements. Benthaus is using her space journey to raise funds for Wings for Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spinal cord injury research. Jared Isaacman, a billionaire tech entrepreneur and the newly appointed NASA administrator, praised Benthaus's achievement, calling it an inspiration for millions to dream big and explore the possibilities of space travel.