Introduction
On Saturday, Blue Origin, the space company owned by American billionaire Jeff Bezos, successfully launched its suborbital New Shepard mission, marking a historic moment as it carried Michaela Benthaus, an aerospace engineer with paraplegia, into space for the first time.
Who is Michaela Benthaus?
Michaela Benthaus, a German aerospace engineer and mechatronics specialist working for the European Space Agency (ESA), embarked on this groundbreaking journey. After suffering a mountain biking accident that resulted in spinal cord injury and subsequent paraplegia, Benthaus has been an advocate for accessibility and inclusivity in the space industry.
Benthaus’s Journey and Impact
In a video released by Blue Origin, Benthaus shared her motivation: “After my accident, I realized how inaccessible our world still is for people with disabilities.” She emphasized the importance of inclusivity, stating, “If we want to be an inclusive society, we must be inclusive in all aspects, not just those that suit us.”
The Mission Details
The New Shepard rocket and its passenger capsule separated during the flight before gently descending into the Texas desert, guided by parachutes.
Support and Recognition
Jared Isaacman, the newly appointed NASA administrator, praised Blue Origin’s achievement: “You just inspired millions of people,” he said on social media.
Blue Origin’s Growth and Competition
This mission was Blue Origin’s sixteenth crewed flight, with the company offering space tourism experiences via its New Shepard rocket for several years. Notable passengers include singer Katy Perry and actor William Shatner, famous for his role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek.
Blue Origin’s main competitor in the suborbital space tourism sector is Virgin Galactic. However, Blue Origin aims to expand its reach and compete with SpaceX, led by billionaire Elon Musk, in the orbital space travel market.
Recent Advancements
This year, Blue Origin successfully conducted two uncrewed orbital flights using its New Glenn rocket, which is significantly more powerful than the New Shepard.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Michaela Benthaus? Michaela Benthaus is a German aerospace engineer and mechatronics specialist working for the European Space Agency (ESA) who became the first person with paraplegia to travel to space.
- What is Blue Origin’s goal? Blue Origin aims to provide suborbital space tourism experiences and eventually compete with SpaceX in the orbital space travel market.
- Who are Blue Origin’s competitors? Virgin Galactic is a main competitor in the suborbital space tourism sector, while SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is the primary competitor in the orbital space travel market.
- What recent achievements has Blue Origin accomplished? Blue Origin successfully conducted two uncrewed orbital flights using its New Glenn rocket this year.
