A person who uses a wheelchair flies into space, a first

A wheelchair user made history on Saturday by becoming the first person with a mobility disability to travel into space, taking a brief but symbolic journey aboard a Blue Origin suborbital flight. The milestone mission marked another step forward for accessibility and inclusion in space exploration.

The space company founded by American billionaire Jeff Bezos launched its New Shepard rocket at 8:15 a.m. local time (1415 GMT) from its launch site in West Texas. The fully automated mission lasted around 10 minutes, carrying its passengers beyond the Kármán line — the internationally recognized boundary of space, located about 100 kilometers above Earth.

Among those on board was Michaela Benthaus, a German aerospace and mechatronics engineer working with the European Space Agency. Benthaus crossed into space despite living with a spinal cord injury sustained in a mountain biking accident, an injury that left her dependent on a wheelchair.

In a video released by Blue Origin ahead of the flight, Benthaus reflected on her experience after the accident, saying it made her deeply aware of how inaccessible much of the world remains for people with disabilities. “After my accident, I really, really figured out how inaccessible our world still is,” she said. She added that true inclusion requires commitment across all areas of society, not just the ones that are convenient. “If we want to be an inclusive society, we should be inclusive in every part, and not only in the parts we like to be.”

The New Shepard rocket lifted off vertically before its crew capsule separated mid-flight. After reaching its peak altitude and providing a brief period of weightlessness, the capsule returned to Earth, descending gently into the Texas desert with the help of parachutes.

This mission was Blue Origin’s 16th crewed flight. For several years, the company has offered space tourism experiences aboard New Shepard, although ticket prices have not been made public. Dozens of people have already flown with the company, including celebrities such as pop star Katy Perry and actor William Shatner, famous for portraying Captain Kirk in Star Trek.

While high-profile passengers help sustain public interest, Blue Origin has broader ambitions. The company is aiming to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the orbital launch market. Earlier this year, Blue Origin successfully completed two uncrewed orbital test flights using its powerful New Glenn rocket, which far exceeds New Shepard in size and capability.