Houston: A person who uses a wheelchair has travelled to space for the first time, marking a significant moment in space tourism, as Blue Origin successfully launched its New Shepard suborbital mission on Saturday morning.

The space company owned by American multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos lifted off at 8.15 am local time (1415 GMT) from its launch site in Texas, completing a brief but historic flight beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Among the passengers was Michaela Benthaus, a German aerospace and mechatronics engineer working with the European Space Agency. She became one of the crew members to cross the Karman line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, during the roughly 10-minute journey.

Benthaus uses a wheelchair after sustaining a spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident, making her participation a first of its kind for human spaceflight.

What did Michaela Benthaus say about accessibility?

Reflecting on her journey, Benthaus spoke about the broader issue of accessibility for people with disabilities. In a video released by Blue Origin, she said, “After my accident, and I really, really figured out how inaccessible our world still is” for people with disabilities.

She added that inclusion should not be selective, stating, “If we want to be an inclusive society, we should be inclusive in every part, and not only in the parts we like to be.”

How did the Blue Origin flight unfold?

The fully automated New Shepard rocket launched vertically before the capsule carrying the passengers detached mid-flight. After reaching space, the capsule made a controlled descent back to the Texas desert, slowing down with the help of parachutes.

This mission marked Blue Origin’s 16th crewed flight, as the company continues to offer space tourism experiences aboard New Shepard. The cost of these flights has not been made public.

Who else has flown with Blue Origin?

Over the years, dozens of people have travelled to space with Blue Origin. High-profile passengers have included pop singer Katy Perry and actor William Shatner, best known for playing Captain Kirk in Star Trek.

Such celebrity participation has helped sustain public interest in commercial space travel, particularly as private space companies compete for leadership in the sector.

Blue Origin faces competition from Virgin Galactic, which offers a similar suborbital spaceflight experience. However, the Bezos-owned company also aims to challenge Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the orbital flight market.

Earlier this year, Blue Origin successfully completed two uncrewed orbital flights using its New Glenn rocket, which is significantly more powerful than New Shepard, signalling the company’s broader ambitions beyond space tourism.

(Agency inputs)