Blue Origin made a historic flight, sending the first person in the world, who uses a wheelchair, into the cosmos. German aerospace engineer Michaela Benthaus (Michaela Benthaus) made a suborbital flight aboard the New Shepard rocket 20 December 2025 year.
Female passenger: 33-year-old Michaela Benthouse, the European Space Agency engineer had a mountain bike accident seven years ago.
The mission demonstrates the inclusivity of space travel and proves, that physical limitations are not an obstacle to space flight.
Flight: The approximately 10-minute flight lifted the capsule with six passengers to an altitude of more than 100 kilometers (62 cute), crossing the Karman line — the universally recognized limit of outer space.
Accessibility: No major modifications to the New Shepard capsule were required for Benthouse to participate, because it was designed with accessibility in mind. Only a special transplant board was added, so she can move between the sunroof and her seat.
After landing, Benthouse was ecstatic, stating: “It was the coolest experience. You should never give up on a dream”.
This flight was a significant step towards increasing access to space travel for people with disabilities, highlighting the growing focus on inclusivity in the commercial space industry.
Source: https://spacenews.com