For the first time in history, a person in a wheelchair flew into space
Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' space tourism company, has sent a person in a wheelchair into space for the first time.
Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' space tourism company, has sent a person in a wheelchair into space for the first time.
German Michaela Benthaus suffered a spinal cord injury in a mountain bike accident seven years ago. She works as an engineer for the European Space Agency and always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, writes the BBC.
One day, she approached former SpaceX space engineer Hans Koenigsmann to help her make her dream come true. She became part of the 16th Blue Origin tourist group of six people who reached a point just above the so-called “border” of space, known as the Kármán line.
New Shepard, Blue Origin's reusable suborbital spacecraft, lifted off from a launch pad in Texas on Saturday.
Benthaus transferred herself from her wheelchair to the capsule using a bench that slid out of the hatch. Koenigsmann was strapped in next to her to provide assistance during the flight if needed. It was Benthaus who inspired the retired SpaceX engineer to join the group of tourists.
Blue Origin said ground support equipment was added to help Ms. Benthouse enter and exit the capsule.
Ukrainian-born Lina Borozdina will fly into suborbital space. She purchased a ticket for the space plane back in 2005.
Ukrainian-born Lina Borozdina will fly into suborbital space. She purchased a ticket for the space plane back in 2005.
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