Summary
A German engineer, Michaela Benthaus, who uses a wheelchair, traveled to space with Blue Origin, making her the first wheelchair user to do so. Benthaus joined five other passengers on a flight that launched from Texas, experiencing weightlessness for over three minutes. The mission was organized and sponsored in part by retired SpaceX executive Hans Koenigsmann.
Key Facts
- Michaela Benthaus, a paraplegic engineer from Germany, flew to space with Blue Origin.
- She is the first person using a wheelchair to travel to space.
- The launch took place in West Texas and was organized with help from Hans Koenigsmann.
- The Blue Origin rocket soared over 65 miles (105 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface.
- Medical and accessibility aids were used to help Benthaus during the flight.
- Benthaus, who works with the European Space Agency, has prior training in simulated space missions.
- Blue Origin has previously flown passengers with other mobility challenges to space.
