German Engineer Completes Suborbital Space Flight
Michaela Benthaus, an engineer from Germany and a wheelchair user, completed a suborbital space flight on Saturday, becoming the first individual with a wheelchair to travel to space. The mission involved Benthaus and five other individuals launching from Texas, reaching an altitude beyond the Kármán line, which is recognized as the boundary of space.
The 10-minute flight was facilitated by Blue Origin, the space tourism company founded by Jeff Bezos. Ms. Benthaus, who works at the European Space Agency, sustained a spinal cord injury seven years prior in a mountain bike accident. Her participation in the flight originated from an online inquiry to Hans Koenigsmann, a retired space engineer, regarding the feasibility of space travel for individuals with disabilities.
Flight Details and Accessibility Measures
The launch utilized Blue Origin's reusable sub-orbital launch vehicle, New Shepard, from the company's Texas launch pad at 14:15 GMT. During the pre-flight process, Ms. Benthaus independently transferred from her wheelchair into the capsule using a specially designed bench extending from the hatch. Hans Koenigsmann was present in the capsule to provide assistance if required.
Blue Origin confirmed that specialized ground support equipment was implemented to aid Ms. Benthaus in entering and exiting the capsule. Phil Joyce, Senior Vice-President of New Shepard, stated that Ms. Benthaus's flight highlights the expanding accessibility of space travel.
Context of Space Tourism
The cost associated with this specific mission has not been publicly disclosed. This flight represents Blue Origin's 16th suborbital space tourism launch. The company has previously transported numerous tourists into space, including a notable flight in April that carried six women, such as Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, and Gayle King, on an 11-minute journey. The private space sector is currently engaged in competition within the space tourism market.