News•Dec 20, 2025
First Wheelchair User Flies to Space
Michi Benthaus, an aerospace engineer who uses a wheelchair, flew aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard‑37 suborbital mission, becoming the first wheelchair‑bound passenger to cross the Kármán line. The flight launched from West Texas on December 20, 2025, with five other passengers and lasted roughly ten minutes before landing under parachutes. Benthaus’s journey was enabled by former SpaceX executive Hans Koenigsmann, who partnered with her after a LinkedIn outreach. The mission underscores the expanding inclusivity of commercial space travel.
