Who is the first wheelchair user to go to space?

Michaela Benthaus, an aerospace engineer, is the first wheelchair user to travel to space aboard a Blue Origin rocket.

How did Michaela Benthaus get a chance to fly with Blue Origin?

A former SpaceX executive, Hans Koenigsmann, learned of Benthaus's dream and connected her with Blue Origin, which then arranged for her historic flight.

What is the significance of Michaela Benthaus's spaceflight?

Her flight is a landmark achievement for inclusivity in space exploration, aiming to inspire others with disabilities and show that space travel can be accessible to all.

Home / Science / Wheelchair User Blasts Off: History Made in Space

Wheelchair User Blasts Off: History Made in Space

18 Dec

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Summary

Michaela Benthaus is the first wheelchair user to travel to space.
A former SpaceX executive facilitated Benthaus' historic flight.
The flight aims to inspire inclusivity in space exploration.

Wheelchair User Blasts Off: History Made in Space

Michaela Benthaus, an aerospace engineer with the European Space Agency, is set to achieve a historic milestone as the first wheelchair user to travel to space. Her suborbital journey aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, designated NS-37, is scheduled for an upcoming launch from Van Horn, Texas.

The opportunity arose through an encounter with Hans Koenigsmann, a former executive at Blue Origin's competitor, SpaceX. Koenigsmann, learning of Benthaus's unfulfilled dream of spaceflight due to a spinal cord injury, initiated contact with Blue Origin, whose team responded positively to accommodating her needs.

Benthaus's flight aims to demonstrate that space travel can be accessible to individuals with mobility-limiting disabilities, challenging existing doubts and fostering greater inclusivity. She is raising funds for spinal cord injury research through this mission, emphasizing the value and resilience individuals with disabilities can bring to future space endeavors.