Former SpaceX Executive Helps Make History With First Wheelchair User Set to Fly to Space

A former SpaceX executive is playing a key role in a potentially historic spaceflight that could make Michaela Benthaus the first wheelchair user to travel to space.

Benthaus, an aerospace and mechatronics engineer with the European Space Agency, is scheduled to fly aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket on a mission known as NS-37. If the flight proceeds as planned, Benthaus would become the first person who uses a wheelchair to reach space, marking a major milestone for accessibility in commercial spaceflight.

The opportunity came together after Benthaus met Hans Koenigsmann, a longtime SpaceX executive who spent nearly 20 years with the company and helped build its earliest rockets. The two, both German, struck up a conversation at an event in Munich last year, where Benthaus shared her lifelong dream of space travel despite living with a spinal cord injury.

Koenigsmann quietly reached out to Blue Origin, SpaceX’s biggest competitor, to explore whether a suborbital flight might be possible. Blue Origin responded positively, and plans quickly took shape for Benthaus and Koenigsmann to fly together, alongside four additional passengers.

The New Shepard mission would offer a brief trip to the edge of space, crossing the Kármán Line about 62 miles above Earth and providing several minutes of weightlessness. Benthaus says she is able to enter and exit the capsule independently and has worked closely with Blue Origin to ensure proper accommodations and safety procedures.

The launch was originally expected to take place from Blue Origin’s Texas facility but was delayed due to a technical issue during preflight checks. The company has not yet announced a new launch date.

Advocates say space travel may actually be well suited for people with certain disabilities, since microgravity reduces the physical limitations imposed by Earth’s gravity. Benthaus hopes her flight will help challenge assumptions and open doors for greater inclusion in future space missions.

Koenigsmann, who left SpaceX in 2021 following internal disagreements, says the mission transcends competition between companies. Benthaus agrees, adding that people with disabilities bring resilience and adaptability that can strengthen any crew.

As part of the mission, Benthaus is also raising funds for spinal cord injury research.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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