An engineer from Germany has made history by becoming the world's first wheelchair user to go into space.
Michaela Benthaus, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident seven years ago, took the initiative to contact a retired space engineer online to see if her dream of becoming an astronaut could still be realized.
With help from this engineer, a historic 10-minute flight was organized with Blue Origin, the space tourism company founded by Jeff Bezos.
On Saturday, Ms. Benthaus and five other passengers launched from Texas, reaching the Kármán line, the widely recognized boundary of space.
It was the coolest experience! she exclaimed after safely landing, as seen 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 New Shepard rocket, Blue Origin's reusable sub-orbital launch vehicle, took off at 14:15 GMT.
Employed at the European Space Agency, Ms. Benthaus highlighted how her accident helped her realize the significant barriers that still exist for people with disabilities. She managed to transfer from her wheelchair into the capsule, using a specially designed bench that extended from the hatch.
Hans Koenigsmann, the retired SpaceX manager who aided in organizing this remarkable trip, was buckled in nearby to provide assistance if necessary.
I met Hans for the first time online, Ms. Benthaus shared. I asked him, given his extensive work with SpaceX, whether he thought someone like me could become an astronaut?
Koenigsmann noted that it was Ms. Benthaus's determination that motivated him to help make this opportunity possible, stating, It's her drive that kind of convinced me I should do that too, and to just experience something that I've seen from the outside for a long time.
Blue Origin emphasized the importance of accessibility in their operations, stating that modifications were made to support Ms. Benthaus in entering and exiting the capsule.
Phil Joyce, senior vice-president of New Shepard, proclaimed, 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, the 16th suborbital launch by Blue Origin, has not been disclosed. This company has transported numerous tourists to space, including a recent flight in April that featured pop star Katy Perry and other notable figures.
These high-profile missions illustrate the competitive landscape among private space firms striving for a foothold in the burgeoning market of space tourism.
