She has made history by becoming the first wheelchair user to travel to space.

Michaela Benthaus, a 33-year-old German engineer, crossed the Kármán Line on Saturday. That boundary sits 100 kilometers above Earth and marks the edge of space.

She flew aboard a Blue Origin New Shepard capsule. The launch took place near Van Horn, Texas. As a result, Benthaus became a global symbol of inclusion in spaceflight.

Benthaus works as an aerospace and mechatronics engineer at the European Space Agency. However, she never thought space travel would be possible for her.

“I always wanted to go to space,” she said before the flight. Still, she doubted it could ever happen.

In 2018, a mountain biking accident damaged her spinal cord. Since then, she has relied on a wheelchair for mobility. Nevertheless, she continued to pursue adventure and engineering challenges.

Over time, her interest in space exploration deepened. She focused on research problems she could tackle despite physical limits. As a result, space became a realistic goal.

The mission, known as NS-37, marked Blue Origin’s 16th suborbital space tourism flight. The trip lasted about ten minutes from launch to landing.

During the flight, the capsule reached more than three times the speed of sound. It also passed beyond the Kármán Line, offering several minutes of weightlessness.

Benthaus used a special strap to secure her legs during microgravity. This allowed her to leave her seat safely and enjoy the view.

She had experienced microgravity before on training flights. Therefore, she focused more on the view than floating tricks.

After landing, she said the strap worked well. She praised both the microgravity phase and the intense ascent.

The capsule exposed passengers to strong forces, including up to five Gs on descent. A trained crewmate stood ready to help if needed.

Benthaus said she plans to use her experience to improve access for future passengers. In addition, she is raising funds for spinal cord injury research.

NASA’s incoming administrator Jared Isaacman praised the mission. He said her flight inspired millions to imagine new possibilities.

Ultimately, Benthaus proved space can be for everyone.

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