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2d ago

Blue Origin Targets Dec. 18 New Shepard Flight Carrying First Wheelchair User to Space

The short suborbital trip from West Texas features a six-person crew on New Shepard’s 37th mission.

Image
New Shepard lifting off for a previous mission.
Blue Origin's NS-37 Set For Historic Launch: 1st Wheelchair User to Reach Space Aboard | Image: X

Overview

  • Blue Origin named the NS-37 passengers: Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, Joey Hyde, Hans Koenigsmann, Neal Milch, Adonis Pouroulis, and Jason Stansell.
  • Liftoff is targeted for December 18 from the company’s West Texas site, with coverage set to begin at 8:50 a.m. EST and a launch window opening at 9:30 a.m. EST.
  • Benthaus, an ESA-affiliated aerospace and mechatronics engineer who has used a wheelchair since a 2018 spinal cord injury, would be the first wheelchair user to cross the edge of space.
  • The New Shepard suborbital flight profile lasts roughly 10–12 minutes and provides a few minutes of weightlessness before capsule landing.
  • Blue Origin released the NS-37 mission patch featuring personal symbols for each flyer, including a hippo and tennis ball for Benthaus and a shard motif signifying barrier‑breaking access.