Michaela "Michi" Benthaus, who is paralyzed from the waist down, flew to space on Blue Origin's suborbital New Shepard rocket. She launched from West Texas.

Michaela Benthaus, an engineer, became the first wheelchair user to travel to space on Saturday, 20 December 2025.

Michaela Benthaus, 33, was able to float in space for more than 3 minutes, leaving her wheelchair behind, which she has used since being severely injured in a mountain bike accident seven years ago.