Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:05am on 22 Dec 2025,Monday Science
German engineer Michaela Benthaus made history as the world's first wheelchair user to travel to space. The European Space Agency employee, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a mountain bike accident seven years ago, joined five others on Blue Origin's 10-minute flight from Texas on Saturday. After reaching out online to retired SpaceX manager Hans Koenigsmann about whether her astronaut dream remained possible, he helped organize the historic mission. The crew reached just above the Kármán line, the recognized boundary of space. Benthaus independently transferred from her wheelchair into the capsule using a specially installed bench. Blue Origin modified ground support equipment to accommodate her, demonstrating that space accessibility is achievable for everyone.
