A German engineer has made history as the first wheelchair user to travel to space.
Michaela Benthaus was one of six passengers aboard a Blue Origin capsule on a ten-minute suborbital flight. The rocket lifted off and crossed the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, before descending back to Earth.
After landing, Michaela described the journey as “the coolest experience,” adding that people should “never give up on their dreams.”
Michaela is a German space engineer and currently a Young Graduate Trainee at the European Space Agency (ESA).
In September 2018, Michaela suffered a life-changing mountain biking accident which led to a spinal cord injury, leaving her reliant on a wheelchair. Michi flew aboard a Zero-G research flight in 2022 and completed an analog astronaut mission. She continues to pursue sporting activities outside of work, including wheelchair tennis, clearly showing that the accident has not stopped Michaela from chasing her dreams.
Blue Origin, New Shepard completes 37th Mission
On December 20, 2025, Blue Origin successfully carried out the 37th flight of its New Shepard program. The crew featured Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, Joey Hyde, Hans Koenigsmann, Neal Milch, Adonis Pouroulis, and Jason Stansell.
“NS-37 marks our ninth flight of the year and sets the stage for an increase in New Shepard flight rate in 2026 and beyond,” said Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President of New Shepard. “This crew exemplifies the breadth and diversity of people who can now experience spaceflight, from engineers and scientists to entrepreneurs, teachers, and investors from all over the world. Each brings their unique perspective and passion for exploration. Michi’s flight is particularly meaningful, demonstrating that space is for everyone, and we are proud to help her achieve this dream.”
New Shepard was built with accessibility at its core. The fully autonomous vehicle includes elevator access on the launch tower, helping to open spaceflight to a broader range of people. With today’s mission included, New Shepard has now carried astronauts who use wheelchairs, are hard of hearing, have limited mobility or limb differences, and who have low vision or are legally blind.
Let’s take a look inside Blue Origin’s New Shapard Capsule
Blue Origin’s Sustainability Story
It has been facinating for me to research Blue Origin and I’m excited to be able to share their wonderful story and amazing work with you.
As pioneers in the space industry, Blue Origin understand the importance of sustainable practices beyond Earth’s boundaries. Just the same as us and our values within the Classic Car world. Their Space Resources Program has been developing technologies to enable us to live off the surface of the Moon and beyond. These sustainable technologies do not require carbon, water, or other chemicals, and result in applications that are solar-powered, carbon-neutral, and non-toxic.
Blue Origin’s Sustainability Programme
Reusable Rockets – building a road to space starts with our reusable vehicles. New Shepard and New Glenn have been designed for operational reusability and minimal maintenance between flights from day one, to decrease the cost of access to space, reduce waste, and help preserve our environment.
Reusable Engines – New Shepard’s BE-3PM and New Glenn’s BE-4 engines can be fired many times and are highly throttleable, allowing for precision landing and high asset utilization.
Cleaner Burning Fuel – By using liquid oxygen and hydrogen to fuel New Shepard and liquefied natural gas for New Glenn, less fuel is required to produce the same thrust, as compared to fuels like Rocket Propellant-1.
Sustainable Supply Chain – They’re instituting a sustainable economic model in the supply chain, helping to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials. By working with raw material marketplaces and distributors whose customers value renewable energy systems, they will continue to reduce the cost and impact of space access.
Working to stay Green – At every Blue location, Blue Origin are setting sustainability success against carbon emissions, energy, waste, and water usage goals. In the manufacturing and operations across Kent, Huntsville, Cape Canaveral, and West Texas, they’re building recycling, reuse, and conservation into the day-to-day practices.