Engineer Michaela Benthaus, in a wheelchair, reaches space, revealing an unprecedented milestone.

Space science has just reached another memorable milestone as German aerospace engineer Michaela Benthaus became the first person in a wheelchair to fly into space. That short 10-minute flight was enough to create a powerful ripple effect.

Reaching the boundaries of space aboard the New Shepard capsule.

According to CNN, on December 20th, Michaela Benthaus (33 years old) and other passengers crossed the Kármán Line – the internationally recognized boundary of space, located at an altitude of approximately 100 km above sea level. The flight was carried out using Blue Origin 's New Shepard spacecraft, launched from a facility near the town of Van Horn, Texas (USA).

The mission, codenamed NS-37, is the 16th near-space trip by Blue Origin – a company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos in 2000 with the goal of bringing space closer to the public, not just professional astronauts.

From a tragic accident to a never-give-up dream.

Michaela Benthaus once thought the dream of space travel was too far-fetched. In 2018, a mountain biking accident caused her spinal cord injury, leaving her in a wheelchair ever since. For Benthaus, this was a huge shock, not only physically but also mentally.

She frankly admitted before the flight that she had thought space was only for people with "mild disabilities," and that a spinal cord injury like hers was "probably too severe." But instead of giving up on her dream, the incident led Benthaus to focus more deeply on research and engineering challenges in the aerospace field, where she could continue to pursue her passion with intellect and perseverance.

10 minutes in space, an unforgettable experience.

The New Shepard flight lasted about 10 minutes, but every moment was precious. The rocket carried Benthaus and five other passengers, including Hans Koenigsmann – a former SpaceX executive – to more than three times the speed of sound, crossing the boundaries of space and providing a few minutes of weightlessness before returning to Earth.

After landing, Benthaus shared that she was impressed by the feeling of acceleration as the rocket left the launch pad, as well as the moment of floating in space and looking down at Earth from above. For her, experiencing each stage of the flight was a "very special" experience.

Space is no longer a privilege.

According to Blue Origin, making the flight suitable for Michaela Benthaus required only minimal technical adjustments. Previously, Blue Origin has sent into space many passengers who don't fit the "traditional mold," such as people with mobility limitations, the visually impaired, the hearing impaired, and even passengers over 90 years old.

This sends a clear message: space is gradually opening up to everyone, provided that people have the ambition and the technology is ready to support it.

An inspiration for millions.

Billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who recently took office as NASA Administrator, praised the NS-37 mission. He said the Benthaus has inspired millions around the world, encouraging them to "dare to look up at the sky and believe that the impossible can still become a reality."

For young people, especially Gen Z, Michaela Benthaus's story is not just a science story, but also a reminder that limitations aren't always in our bodies, but sometimes in how we judge ourselves.

A small milestone, a big one.

When a person in a wheelchair can fly beyond the boundaries of space, the message sent down to Earth is clear: dreams have no fixed shape, and technology, if developed in the right direction, can become a bridge that takes humanity far beyond what was once thought impossible.