An engineer from Germany has become the world's first wheelchair user to go into space.
Michaela Benthaus, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a mountain bike accident seven years ago, reached out online to a retired space engineer to discuss the possibility of her dream of becoming an astronaut.
This connection led to the organization of her historic 10-minute flight with Blue Origin, the space tourism company founded by Jeff Bezos.
On Saturday, Benthaus and five other passengers blasted off from Texas, reaching just above the Kármán line, the boundary of space.
It was the coolest experience! she exclaimed upon landing in a video shared by Blue Origin. I didn't only like the view and the micro-gravity, but I also liked going up. That was so cool, every stage of going up.
The flight, operated by Blue Origin's New Shepard reusable sub-orbital launch vehicle, took off from the company's Texas launch pad at 14:15 GMT.
Benthaus currently works at the European Space Agency and highlighted the ongoing challenges for individuals with disabilities: I've really, really figured out how inaccessible our world still is for people with disabilities.\
Using a bench extending from the hatch, she independently made her way from her wheelchair into the capsule. Hans Koenigsmann, a retired SpaceX manager who aligned with her aspirations, was on board to assist if necessary.
I met Hans online for the first time and asked him if people like me could ever be astronauts, she shared.
Koenigsmann remarked that Benthaus\'s determination was inspirational, stating, It's her drive that convinced me to embark on this journey and to experience something I had only observed for a long time.
Blue Origin incorporated ground support equipment to facilitate Ms. Benthaus's entry and exit from the capsule. Phil Joyce, senior vice-president of New Shepard, stated, Michi's flight is particularly meaningful, demonstrating that space is for everyone, and we are proud to help her achieve this dream.
The cost of the mission, which marks the 16th suborbital space tourism launch by Blue Origin, has not been disclosed. The company has already taken numerous tourists to the edge of space, including figures such as pop star Katy Perry and CBS presenter Gayle King earlier this year.
As private space companies like Blue Origin compete fiercely in the burgeoning space tourism industry, Benthaus's groundbreaking journey serves as a beacon for inclusivity and accessibility in space exploration.
