German engineer becomes first wheelchair user to visit space – DW – 12/20/2025
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German engineer Michaela Benthaus, who has paraplegia, traveled to space with Jeff Bezos' company Blue Origin.

German engineer Michaela Benthaus, who has paraplegia, traveled to space with Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin.

German engineer Michaela Benthaus on Saturday became the first person with paraplegia to travel to space.

Benthaus, who is 33, was exuberant about her experience in space in comments made after her return to Earth. “It was the coolest experience ever, honestly,” the engineer, who works at the European Space Agency (ESA), said.

Benthaus sustained a spinal injury during a mountain bike accident at the age of 26 and now uses a wheelchair.

  • zaphod@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    162·
    1 day ago

    Walking may not be an issue, but astronauts usually hook into things using their feet to stabilise themselves, can’t do that if you have no control over your legs.

    • yesman@lemmy.worldEnglish
      38·
      22 hours ago

      This comment is braindead bigotry. It’s like saying a paraplegic can’t be a lawyer because they can’t climb the courthouse steps.

      There has never existed an astronaut that didn’t need significant accommodation to live in work in space (duh), you’re arguing that disabled people don’t deserve the exact same treatment. Fuck you.

      • Typhoon@lemmy.caEnglish
        3·
        17 hours ago

        It’s like saying a paraplegic can’t be a lawyer because they can’t climb the courthouse steps

        Show me where he said she can’t be an astronaut.

      • zaphod@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        6·
        22 hours ago

        I’m just saying that just because they’re in space their disability doesn’t suddenly disappear. They still need some additional support, because astronauts still use their legs, just not for walking.