Michaela Benthaus, a 33-year-old aerospace and mechatronics engineer from Germany, has made history as the first wheelchair user to travel beyond the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, situated 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level. Her groundbreaking journey took place aboard a Blue Origin New Shepard capsule on October 7, 2023, launching from facilities near Van Horn, Texas.
The mission, designated NS-37, marks the 16th suborbital flight in Blue Origin’s space tourism program. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, Blue Origin aims to broaden access to space, catering to a diverse range of enthusiasts, including those who do not conform to traditional astronaut profiles.
A Lifelong Dream Realized
In an interview prior to the flight, Benthaus expressed her longstanding aspiration to explore space. “I always wanted to go to space, but I never really considered it something which I could actually do,” she reflected. Prior to securing her seat on the New Shepard capsule, she had doubts about her eligibility, thinking, “Maybe space is for people who have an amputated leg but still can walk a little bit,” questioning the feasibility for someone with a spinal cord injury.
Benthaus sustained her spinal cord injury in a 2018 mountain biking accident. This event transformed her perspective and propelled her toward her passions in engineering and research, all while navigating life in a wheelchair. Her flight lasted approximately 10 minutes, during which the rocket accelerated to over three times the speed of sound before crossing the Kármán Line.
Experiencing Weightlessness
New Shepard is engineered to provide passengers with several minutes of weightlessness at the peak of the flight. As the capsule ascended, Benthaus planned to use a special strap to secure her legs, allowing her to exit her seat and experience microgravity while observing Earth from the window. Having previously participated in a parabolic training flight, she anticipated focusing on the stunning views rather than performing acrobatics in the cabin.
Recognizing the significance of her journey, Benthaus aims to enhance the experience for future passengers facing similar challenges. “I want to see how this leg strap works — and if not, what could maybe be improved in the future,” she stated. Despite her preparations, it remained uncertain whether she would be able to return to her seat without assistance. Her friend, Hans Koenigsmann, a former executive at SpaceX, accompanied her and was trained to assist if necessary.
In addition to her personal achievement, Benthaus is using her platform to support spinal cord injury research. She is raising funds for the nonprofit organization Wings for Life, which focuses on advancing scientific research in this critical area.
With her remarkable flight, Michaela Benthaus not only broke barriers for wheelchair users but also inspired countless individuals to pursue their dreams of space exploration, regardless of their physical challenges.
