Blue Origin has announced the crew for its next New Shepard suborbital flight, which will include Michi Benthaus, an aerospace engineer who will become the first wheelchair user to travel to the edge of space. The mission marks a significant step for accessibility in space travel.
Benthaus will be one of six passengers on the upcoming flight, the 37th for the New Shepard rocket system. While a launch date has not yet been set, the crew announcement highlights a growing focus on expanding access to space beyond traditional astronaut profiles.
Key Takeaways
- Michi Benthaus, a European Space Agency engineer, will be the first wheelchair user to fly to space.
- The flight is a private, suborbital mission conducted by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.
- The crew of six will travel past the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
- This mission follows broader efforts by agencies like the ESA to study the feasibility of sending astronauts with physical disabilities on long-duration missions.
A New Frontier for Accessibility
The upcoming Blue Origin mission is poised to break a barrier that has stood for over six decades of human spaceflight. Michi Benthaus, an aerospace and mechatronics engineer currently working with the European Space Agency (ESA), is set to make history. Her participation directly addresses the long-overlooked topic of space accessibility for individuals with physical disabilities.
Benthaus is not new to the rigors of spaceflight preparation. She has previously completed an analog astronaut training program and experienced weightlessness during a Zero G parabolic flight. Her career and advocacy are centered on making space more inclusive, a goal her flight will visibly champion.
She will be joined by five other private citizens on the brief journey: Joey Hyde, former NASA engineer Hans Koenigsmann, Neal Milch, Adonis Pouroulis, and Jason Stansell. Together, they will become the latest group to join the exclusive club of 80 individuals who have already flown on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket.
The New Shepard Experience
The New Shepard flight is a suborbital journey lasting approximately 10 minutes. The reusable rocket launches a capsule carrying passengers to an altitude just above 100 kilometers (about 62 miles), crossing the Kármán line. At the apex of the flight, passengers experience several minutes of weightlessness and can view the Earth from space before the capsule returns via parachute.
Broader Efforts in Inclusive Spaceflight
While a private commercial flight is achieving this milestone, government-funded space agencies are also making progress. The European Space Agency has been actively exploring the possibility of sending an astronaut with a physical disability on a long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Their groundbreaking feasibility study selected John McFall, a former Paralympian and current surgeon who had his right leg amputated above the knee. The 18-month study involved extensive testing, including simulated microgravity environments, to understand how his body would react to the physiological stresses of space.
The initial results from the ESA's studies have been positive, confirming that individuals with disabilities like McFall's can safely and effectively perform duties in space. The next phase of research will focus on the practicalities of using a prosthesis in a microgravity environment.
McFall is now part of the ESA Astronaut Reserve, continuing his training with the hope of being assigned to a future mission to the ISS. These parallel efforts by both private and public entities signal a potential shift in the definition of who can become an astronaut.
The Significance of a Short Flight
Although Benthaus's flight will be brief, its symbolic importance is substantial. For decades, the physical requirements for astronauts have been exceptionally strict, effectively excluding a large portion of the global population. In the United States alone, approximately one in four adults lives with some form of disability.
This flight demonstrates that with modern technology, the final frontier can become more accessible. It challenges long-held assumptions about the physical capabilities required for space travel, particularly for short-duration suborbital flights.
A Long Time Coming
It has taken more than 50 years of human space exploration for the first person with a known physical disability to be scheduled for a flight to space. This milestone is being achieved through commercial space tourism rather than a government space program.
The Role of Commercial Space
The involvement of a private company like Blue Origin is a key element of this story. The rise of space tourism has created new opportunities for individuals who do not fit the traditional mold of a government-sponsored astronaut. However, the sector has also faced scrutiny regarding its selection processes and public relations efforts.
An earlier all-female Blue Origin flight, intended to highlight women in space, received criticism for its execution and guest list, which included celebrities and Jeff Bezos's fiancée, Lauren Sánchez. Critics argued it missed an opportunity for more meaningful representation.
Benthaus's inclusion, however, appears to be a more direct and impactful statement on inclusion. Her professional background as an aerospace engineer and her advocacy work lend significant credibility to the mission's purpose. The long-term impact of this flight on policies at major space agencies like NASA remains to be seen, but it will undoubtedly serve as a powerful precedent for future discussions on diversity and inclusion in space exploration.