A tourist using a wheelchair briefly traveled to space on Saturday, Dec. 20, marking a first of its kind worldwide. The flight lifted off from Texas aboard a rocket operated by Blue Origin, the space company founded by American billionaire Jeff Bezos.
Michaela Benthaus, a German aerospace engineer who became paraplegic after an accident, joined five other passengers—including business executives—on the suborbital journey. The experience, offered by Blue Origin, remains accessible only to a small group of privileged participants.
“After my accident, I truly realized the extent to which our world remains inaccessible” for people with disabilities, Benthaus said in a video released by the company. “If we want to be an inclusive society, we have to be inclusive in all areas, not just where it suits us,” she added.
The launch took place in West Texas shortly after 8:15 a.m. local time. The fully automated rocket lifted off vertically, and the capsule carrying the passengers later separated mid-flight before descending back to the Texas desert, slowing its fall with the help of parachutes.
During the roughly 10-minute experience, the six passengers crossed the Karman line—located at an altitude of 100 kilometers—which is internationally recognized as the boundary of space.
NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, welcomed the milestone and congratulated Benthaus on her determination. “You are an inspiration to millions of people,” he said.
