Michaela Benthaus: First wheelchair user flies into space for inclusion!

Michaela Benthaus: First wheelchair user flies into space for inclusion!

A historic moment is approaching: Michaela Benthaus, 33 years old, will be the first person with paraplegia to fly into space. Your goal? Send a strong signal for more inclusion! Benthaus, who has been in a wheelchair since a mountain bike accident in 2018, is not only an engineer at the European Space Agency (ESA), she also dreams that one day it will be more normal to see people with disabilities in space. Their commitment aims to promote accessibility both in space and on Earth. “We need to open doors for future missions and raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities,” explains Benthaus. She sees her upcoming flight not as a tourist tour, but as a scientific experiment that can help make manned space travel more accessible, as Radio Herford reports.

Born in Kiel and living in Munich for a long time, Benthaus has a passion for space that she has pursued since childhood, inspired by “Star Wars”. She experienced weightlessness on a parabolic journey in 2022, which further strengthened her determination to become involved in space travel. Their upcoming flight with Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' space company, will last around 15 minutes and will take them up to 100 kilometers above Earth. The exact details of the start date in West Texas are not yet known, but Benthaus is positive about the upcoming adventure.

Inclusion and accessibility in space

Since her accident, Benthaus has been concerned about accessibility. This makes the approach that people with disabilities should not be excluded when it comes to space travel all the more important to her. “There are so many challenges, like using the shower and toilet or stabilizing while working in space,” she notes. Nevertheless, she remains optimistic and sees her flight as an opportunity to draw attention to these challenges and find solutions.

In the context of space flight, the question of the environment sometimes arises. Blue Origin's short space flights have been criticized for their negative impact on the climate, but Benthaus emphasizes that she sees their flight in a different light. “This is not just a tourist flight, but an opportunity to gain scientific knowledge,” said the engineer. During her time at ESA, she has not only worked on the development of new technologies, but also on the inclusion of people with disabilities in space, which is a particular concern of hers.

Impactful programs and future perspectives

Benthaus is not alone in her endeavor. Initiatives like AstroAccess have been committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities in space travel for years. The organization has conducted several microgravity missions since 2021, which also included participants with various disabilities. Alan Ladwig, a former NASA employee, calls Benthaus' upcoming mission a historic flight. He was involved in programs in the 1980s that promoted the involvement of civilians in space travel and sees Benthaus's efforts as another step forward in this direction. ESA has also taken steps to break down barriers through projects such as the selection of former Paralympic athlete John McFall for its Parastronaut project.

Michaela Benthaus shows that dreams and science can also be combined with challenges. Your journey into space will not only be a personal highlight, but also a step towards a more inclusive future in space. Let's stay excited to see what the future holds for you and all people with disabilities!