Blue Origin is preparing to make spaceflight history this week as aerospace engineer Michaela “Michi” Benthaus becomes the first person who uses a wheelchair to travel into space. The milestone mission is scheduled to lift off from West Texas aboard the company’s New Shepard vehicle, marking a major step toward accessible space tourism.
Benthaus, an accomplished engineer with deep experience in spacecraft design, has used a wheelchair since a 2018 spinal cord injury. Despite the physical challenges that followed, she continued pushing forward in her field — and will now join a crew of six on a brief suborbital journey that lasts approximately ten minutes from launch to landing.
To accommodate her needs, Blue Origin designed several modifications to the cabin environment, including specialized seating and additional assistive harnessing to ensure she can safely experience weightlessness. Engineers involved with the flight say the adjustments were minor compared to the symbolic impact of the mission itself.
Blue Origin calls the launch a “breakthrough moment” for the future of civilian space travel. Advocates for accessibility say it represents a powerful shift in who gets to participate in humanity’s next era of exploration. For decades, spaceflight was reserved for elite, physically screened astronauts; now, commercial space companies are pushing to broaden the definition of who belongs among the stars.
If successful, Benthaus’ journey could pave the way for more inclusive participation in future missions — and expand the possibilities of space travel far beyond traditional limits.
