In a historic move that represents a turning point in the field of space tourism and the comprehensiveness of exploring the universe, German engineer Michaela Benthaus history as the first person to use a wheelchair to reach space, on board a flight organized by Blue Origin, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos.
Trip details and crossing the Karman line
The flight launched Saturday morning from the company's base in West Texas, with a New Shepard rocket carrying the capsule with Penthouse and five other space tourists. The suborbital flight lasted about 10 minutes, during which the crew crossed the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space located 100 kilometers above sea level.
The rocket operated on a fully automated system, with the capsule separating in space to give passengers a few minutes of weightlessness, before returning to land safely in the Texas desert using parachutes, while the rocket booster returned to land vertically successfully, confirming the efficiency of the reusable technologies developed by the company.
A message of hope and inclusivity
Michaela Penthaus, an aerospace and mechatronics engineer at the European Space Agency, uses a wheelchair after suffering a spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident. In a video released by the company, she stated: “After the accident, I realized how many barriers still exist for people with disabilities. To be a truly inclusive society, that has to include all boundaries, including space.”.
This achievement has been met with widespread acclaim, with private astronaut and billionaire Jared Isaacman (commander of the Polaris Dawn mission) praising the event via the “X” platform, asserting that Michela has inspired millions to look to the sky and imagine what is possible.
The context of competition in space tourism
This flight, Blue Origin's sixteenth crewed mission, comes at a time when competition is fierce among private space companies to strengthen their position in the space tourism market:
- Blue Origin focuses on suborbital flights via the New Shepard rocket and is currently developing the massive New Glenn rocket to compete in orbital flights and satellite transport.
- Virgin Galactic: Offers a similar experience but using a spaceplane, targeting the same segment of wealthy tourists and researchers.
- SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, currently stands alone in the field of full orbital flights and long-duration missions to the International Space Station.
The importance of the event and the future of “astronauts with disabilities”
This event opens the door wide to discussions about the future of parastronauts. It's worth noting that the European Space Agency (ESA) previously announced a program to study the feasibility of sending astronauts with physical disabilities into space, selecting Paralympic runner John McFall for this purpose. Penthouse's flight serves as practical proof that physical limitations are no longer an obstacle to space travel thanks to advancements in technology and safety systems, heralding a future where space is accessible to everyone, not just a select few.
