Wheelchair-using engineer makes historic spaceflight

KATHMANDU: German aerospace engineer Michaela Benthaus has made history by becoming the first wheelchair user to travel to space, marking a major milestone for inclusion in space exploration.

Benthaus reached space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket, which launched from Texas on Dec 20.

During the nearly 10-minute flight, she crossed the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, and experienced a brief period of microgravity.

“This was an absolutely incredible experience,” Benthaus said after landing safely in the West Texas desert using parachutes and a retro-thrust system. “We should never give up on our dreams. Sometimes, even against all odds, dreams do come true.”

The 33-year-old engineer, who works as an aerospace and mechatronics engineer at the European Space Agency (ESA), was joined on the flight by four private-sector business leaders and a former SpaceX executive. All passengers reported experiencing weightlessness during the journey.

Benthaus has used a wheelchair since a mountain biking accident at age 26 left her with a spinal cord injury. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasized the need for greater accessibility. “After the accident, I realized the world is still not accessible for people with disabilities,” she said in a Blue Origin video. “If we want an inclusive society, space should be open to everyone as well.”

International media have described her flight as more than a personal achievement, calling it a breakthrough for inclusive space tourism and research.

Traditionally, strict physical requirements limited who could qualify for space missions. Benthaus’s participation is expected to encourage more diverse and inclusive future space missions.

Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, has previously flown high-profile passengers such as pop singer Katy Perry and actor William Shatner.

The company continues to expand its space tourism program as it competes with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the rapidly growing private space sector.