Aerospace Engineer to Make History as First Wheelchair User in Space
A groundbreaking moment for space exploration and inclusivity is on the horizon: an aerospace engineer will become the first wheelchair user to travel to space next week, if the planned launch proceeds as scheduled. Blue Origin announced today, December 11, that its NS-37 mission is targeting December 18 for a suborbital flight carrying six passengers.
A New Era of Accessibility
Among the crew is Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, an engineer at the European Space Agency. Benthaus has used a wheelchair since a spinal cord injury sustained during a 2018 mountain-biking accident. Her participation in the NS-37 mission represents a significant step forward in making space travel accessible to individuals with disabilities. According to a company release, this flight is poised to break new ground for access and inclusion in human spaceflight.
Mission Details: NS-37 Launch
The NS-37 mission will launch from Blue Origin’s facility in West Texas. The launch window opens at 9:30 a.m. EST (1430 GMT; 8:30 a.m. local time) on December 18. Blue Origin plans to stream the event live, beginning approximately 40 minutes before liftoff.
This will be the 37th flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle, a reusable system consisting of a crew capsule and a rocket. The entire flight, from liftoff to capsule touchdown, is expected to last between 10 and 12 minutes. Passengers will experience several minutes of weightlessness and witness the curvature of Earth against the backdrop of space.
The NS-37 Crew
Joining Benthaus on this historic flight are investor Joey Hyde, aerospace engineer Hans Koenigsmann, entrepreneur Neal Milch, investor Adonis Pouroulis, and self-proclaimed “space nerd” Jason Stansell. Notably, Koenigsmann is a veteran of the space industry, having been one of the earliest employees at SpaceX, where he served as vice president of build and flight reliability from 2002 to 2021.
Symbolism Woven into the Mission Patch
Blue Origin also unveiled the NS-37 mission patch, which incorporates personal symbols representing each crew member. The company provided a detailed explanation of the patch’s imagery:
- The DNA strand symbolizes the importance of science to Neal Milch.
- A hippo represents Michaela Benthaus’ favorite animal, and a plush hippo that provided comfort during her recovery will accompany her on the flight.
- A tennis ball symbolizes another of Benthaus’ passions.
- A baobab tree represents Adonis Pouroulis’ South African heritage.
- A spiral galaxy symbolizes Joey Hyde’s astrophysics research.
- A dog-bone shape with stars and the letter “K” is a memorial to Jason Stansell’s brother.
- Shards represent Blue Origin’s commitment to removing barriers to space access, including those related to cost, nationality, and ability.
This mission underscores a growing movement within the commercial space sector to broaden participation and make the experience of space travel available to a more diverse range of individuals. The NS-37 flight is not just a technological achievement, but a powerful statement about the future of space exploration – one that is, and should be, open to all.
