On December 20, 2025, a historic event took place: private space company Blue Origin delivered a person with a serious physical disability to the edge of space for the first time. German engineer Michaela Benthaus, who was left paralyzed after an accident, along with former SpaceX engineer Hans Koenigsmann and four other passengers, took a 10-minute flight on the New Shepard rocket.
Photo: Blue Origin
Michaela Benthaus, a former SpaceX employee, was paralyzed below the waist in 2018. Meeting Koenigsmann, who once worked on Falcon rockets, gave her the impetus to pursue her dream. “Can people like me do this?” she asked. Hans contacted Blue Origin, and the company supported the idea. “It was her energy that convinced me,” Koenigsmann admitted.
Journey to the stars
After a slight delay due to technical checks, New Shepard took off from the launch pad in Texas. Benthouse moved independently from the trolley to the capsule using a special ladder. In two and a half minutes, the rocket reached a speed almost three times faster than the speed of sound. At an altitude of over 100 km, the passengers unbuckled their seat belts and experienced several minutes of true weightlessness. “It was the coolest experience! Never give up on your dreams,” Michaela shared her impressions after a successful landing.
Space is for everyone. pic.twitter.com/OUs4V2LURA
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) December 20, 2025
Her flight is a symbolic breakthrough and another step towards an inclusive space. Blue Origin’s 37th tourist mission proved that physical limitations are not an absolute barrier to space flight. At the same time, the trip raises an important question for long-term missions, such as to Mars: how to ensure the safety of all crew members, regardless of their physical abilities.
“People with disabilities benefit the crew. You develop a very special resilience,” Michaela Benthaus is convinced.
We previously reported on how Blue Origin recreated lunar gravity during the New Shepard launch.
Provided by cbsnews.com
