BlueOrigin Launches a Wheelchair Person

Image from Spacenews

In December 2025, Blue Origin’s New Shepard flight NS-37 made history when aerospace engineer Michaela “Michi” Benthaus became the first wheelchair user to travel to space on December 20. The suborbital mission lifted off from West Texas and reached beyond the Kármán line, giving six crew members a brief but meaningful experience of weightlessness. Benthaus’s flight did not just mark a personal achievement but also underscored how engineering designs can adapt to make spaceflight more inclusive. This historic moment drew attention worldwide and inspired conversations about expanding access to space. The flight itself lasted about 10 minutes and demonstrated that even short suborbital missions can open new doors for broader participation in space exploration.

The New Shepard system used for this flight is built with reusability and accessibility in mind. Its crew capsule and rocket booster are designed to withstand repeated launches and safe landings, reducing cost and increasing frequency of flights. Engineers implemented thoughtful modifications such as patient transfer support and landing aids to accommodate Benthaus, showing how mechanical design can adapt to diverse human needs without compromising safety. This mission highlights aerospace engineering not just as a technical challenge but as a human-centered endeavor. Future suborbital and orbital vehicles will likely draw on lessons from NS-37 to improve accessibility further. Companies across the industry are now paying closer attention to universal design in crewed spacecraft.