Michaela Benthaus, a 33-year-old aerospace and mechatronics engineer at the European Space Agency, has achieved a monumental milestone by becoming the first wheelchair user to travel past the Kármán Line, marking a significant step in making space more accessible. Benthaus completed her historic journey aboard a Blue Origin New Shepard capsule, which launched from Texas, during the mission designated NS-37.
This flight represents the 16th suborbital space tourism launch for Blue Origin, the venture established by Jeff Bezos in 2000. It aims to broaden access to space, catering to a diverse range of individuals eager to experience it. Before her flight, Benthaus expressed her lifelong dream of going to space, a dream she once doubted was attainable due to her spinal cord injury. “Maybe space is for people who have an amputated leg but still can walk a little bit,” she reflected, questioning her own eligibility for such an extraordinary experience.
Benthaus sustained her spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident in 2018, which eventually fueled a growing passion for engineering and research within the realm of space exploration. Her flight lasted approximately 10 minutes, during which the rocket accelerated Benthaus and her five crewmates to speeds exceeding three times the speed of sound, successfully crossing the Kármán Line.
The New Shepard flight is designed to provide passengers with several minutes of weightlessness at the peak of the journey before gravity pulls the capsule back to Earth. Prior to takeoff, Benthaus had made arrangements to use a special strap to secure her legs, allowing her to exit her seat and take in the unique views of Earth during her time in microgravity.
Having previously experienced microgravity during a parabolic training flight, Benthaus was eager to immerse herself in the experience rather than perform acrobatics inside the cabin. Her intent was also to gather insights that could enhance the journey for future travelers facing similar circumstances.
Upon her return from the flight, Benthaus remarked that the strap she utilized worked “quite well.” She expressed her exhilaration about the views and the sensation of ascent, stating, “I did really love the view and the microgravity phase, but I also loved all the going up.” The New Shepard also subjects its passengers to intense G forces, reaching up to 5Gs during descent.
While there was uncertainty about her ability to return to her seat unassisted following the microgravity experience, fellow space traveler Hans Koenigsmann, a former SpaceX executive and a friend of Benthaus, was prepared to help if necessary. Reflecting on his own experience, Koenigsmann noted the unexpected intensity of the flight, describing the movements as “slower, but more forceful.”
In connection with her space journey, Benthaus is also raising funds for Wings for Life, a nonprofit focused on spinal cord injury research. The impact of her achievement has resonated across the space community, with Jared Isaacman, a billion-dollar entrepreneur and new NASA administrator, commending her on social media for inspiring countless individuals to dream about the possibilities beyond Earth.
