In a landmark moment for inclusivity in space exploration, Michaela Benthaus, a German aerospace engineer with the European Space Agency (ESA), is poised to become the first wheelchair user to travel beyond Earth's atmosphere. Her journey aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft marks a significant step towards making space accessible to all.
From Accident to the Stars: Michaela Benthaus's Journey
Michaela Benthaus, affectionately known as Michi, is an award-winning engineer whose life took a dramatic turn in 2018. A severe spinal cord injury from a mountain biking accident left her using a wheelchair, and she feared her lifelong dream of spaceflight was over. However, her determination never wavered. Her upcoming flight on New Shepard is a powerful testament to her resilience and a major milestone for disability inclusion in the final frontier. Benthaus aims to use this historic opportunity to inspire systemic change within the aerospace industry, proving that physical limitations should not be a barrier to reaching the stars.
Mission Details: When and How to Watch NS-37
The historic mission, designated NS-37, is scheduled for launch on Thursday, 18th December, at 9:30 am Eastern Time. The launch site is Blue Origin's private facility, Launch Site One, near Van Horn in West Texas. A backup launch window is available the following day. The entire event, from liftoff to landing, will be streamed live for the public to witness on Blue Origin's official website and social media channels.
The flight profile is characteristic of New Shepard's suborbital trips. The fully reusable spacecraft will launch vertically, carrying its six passengers on an 11-minute journey. After crossing the Kármán line (the boundary of space), the crew will experience several minutes of weightlessness, enjoying breathtaking views of Earth against the blackness of space, before the capsule returns for a gentle, vertical landing.
The Historic NS-37 Crew and Blue Origin's Vision
Benthaus will be joined by five other crew members on this flight, bringing the total number of humans flown on New Shepard to over 80. Her fellow astronauts include:
- Joey Hyde, a physicist and investor from Florida.
- Hans Koenigsmann, a German-American aerospace engineer and former SpaceX executive.
- Neal Milch, a business executive and board chair of the Jackson Laboratory.
- Adonis Pouroulis, a founder and entrepreneur in natural resources and energy.
- Jason Stansell, a Texan adventure-seeker and rocket enthusiast.
This mission underscores Blue Origin's role in the burgeoning era of commercial space travel. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, the company is concurrently developing its larger, orbital-class New Glenn rocket. While New Shepard enables short, transformative experiences in space, New Glenn is designed to launch satellites and undertake more complex orbital missions, positioning Blue Origin as a key competitor in the global space market with ambitions that extend toward future deep-space exploration.
Michaela Benthaus's flight is more than a personal triumph; it is a giant leap for representation. It signals a future where space travel is increasingly inclusive, allowing people of all abilities to participate in humanity's greatest adventure.
