History was made on Saturday, 20 December 2025, as engineer Michaela Benthaus became the first wheelchair user to travel to space. Her landmark journey was part of a brief, ten-minute suborbital flight operated by Jeff Bezos' space company, Blue Origin.
A Pioneering Flight from West Texas
The mission launched from Blue Origin's facility in West Texas, carrying Benthaus and five other passengers. They travelled aboard the company's autonomous New Shepard capsule, a vehicle which the firm had thoughtfully designed with accessibility principles in mind. Officials confirmed that only minor adjustments were necessary to accommodate Benthaus for the flight, marking a significant step towards inclusive space exploration.
"The Coolest Experience": Benthaus's Joyful Journey
For Michaela Benthaus, who sustained severe injuries in a mountain biking accident seven years ago, the flight was a dream realised. She described laughing uncontrollably during the ascent and even attempting to turn upside down once weightless. "It was the coolest experience," she declared after safely returning to Earth. Her journey underscores a growing movement to make the final frontier accessible to all.
Blue Origin's Expanding Passenger Programme
Founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos in the year 2000, Blue Origin began its commercial passenger spaceflight service in 2021. The successful flight on 20 December 2025 represents one of its most socially significant milestones to date, proving that physical disability need not be a barrier to experiencing space. The mission highlights the company's ongoing efforts to democratise access to space travel.
This historic event not only celebrates a personal triumph for Michaela Benthaus but also signals a new chapter for the space industry, where inclusivity is becoming a central part of the mission design from the outset.
