Michaela Benthaus | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1991 or 1992 (age 33–34)[1] |
| Alma mater | Johannes Kepler University Linz Technical University of Munich |
| Known for | First wheelchair user to travel to space |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | mechatronics and aerospace engineering |
| Institutions | European Space Agency |
Michaela Michi Benthaus is a German aerospace engineer who became the first wheelchair user to travel to space.[2][3] She works for the European Space Agency.
Early life and education
Benthaus received her early education from the Nymphenburg schools in Munich, Bavaria. She then went on to study mechatronics for her Bachelor's degree at Johannes Kepler University Linz, followed by a Master's degree in aerospace engineering at the Technical University of Munich with focus on space and astrophysics.[4]
In 2018, Benthaus suffered a spinal cord injury during a mountain biking accident, which left her with paraplegia at the age of 26. Since then, she has been a full time wheelchair user.[5][6]
Career
Benthaus was enrolled in the graduate trainee program of the European Space Agency in the Netherlands.[5]
In 2022, Benthaus flew aboard a parabolic airplane flight named the Vomit Comet, which provides an environment of near-weightlessness for a brief period. In 2024, she took part in a two-week simulated astronaut mission in Poland.[7][5][8]
In 2025, Benthaus was accompanied by fellow German engineer Hans Koenigsmann in her mission to fly in outer space.[9] Benthaus herself reached out to Hans Koenigsmann to examine the possibility of whether she could realise her dream of becoming an astronaut.[3][10]
Benthaus joined the sub-orbital spaceflight Blue Origin NS-37 as one of six crew members, with her trip financed by Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin. On December 20 2025, the 10 minute flight launched from West Texas at 9:15 a.m. EST. and reached 65 miles in altitude, passing the Kármán line which is some 62 miles far away above the Earth.[1][10] Benthaus became the first wheelchair user to reach space aboard a sub-orbital flight.[3][9]
Benthaus also advocated for the equal rights and increased inclusion of individuals with physical disabilities. After successfully entering space, she emphasized that more initiatives had to be put in place to give more space for disabled people to shine in their preferred areas of interest. Benthaus is also known for her humanitarian efforts, as the event of her spaceflight raised money for "Wings for Life", a nonprofit organization focusing on spinal cord injury research.[1]
Personal life
Benthaus' interest in space began in childhood when she watched movies such as Star Wars.[11] She plays wheelchair tennis during her leisure time.[8]
References
- ^ a b c Wattles, Jackie (20 December 2025). "She just became the first wheelchair user to travel to space". CNN. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "Watch: Germany's Michaela Benthaus becomes first wheelchair user to travel to space". The Hindu. 2025-12-22. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ^ a b c Asaf, Seher (2025-12-20). "Blue Origin: Engineer becomes first wheelchair user to go to space". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ^ "Aerospace-Studentin erlebt Schwerelosigkeit bei Parabelflug". www.tum.de (in German). Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ a b c The Associated Press (2025-12-20). "Paraplegic engineer becomes first wheelchair user to float in space". NBC News. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ^ Inayatullah, Saim Dušan. "German engineer becomes first wheelchair user to visit space – DW – 12/20/2025". dw.com. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ^ Mike Wall (2025-12-03). "Next Blue Origin tourist launch will fly wheelchair user to space for 1st time". Space. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ^ a b Glasser, Matthew; Jacobo, Julia. "For the 1st time ever, a person who uses a wheelchair will fly to space". abcNews.
- ^ a b The Associated Press (2025-12-20). "First wheelchair-using astronaut touches down after ride to edge of space". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ^ a b William, Harwood (20 December 2025). "Blue Origin launches wheelchair-user and 5 others on sub-orbital trip to space - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ Leischow, Dagmar (27 November 2025). "Michaela Benthaus fliegt als erste Rollstuhlfahrerin ins All". noz.de (in German). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
