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Blue Origin Scrubs NS-37 Launch Carrying First Wheelchair User to Space

A preflight-check issue halted liftoff in West Texas as the company reviews the problem and determines a new launch opportunity.

Overview

  • Blue Origin stood down from the Dec. 18 New Shepard flight after its team detected an unspecified issue during built-in checks.
  • The NS-37 mission would carry six passengers: Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, Joey Hyde, Hans Koenigsmann, Neal Milch, Adonis Pouroulis, and Jason Stansell.
  • Benthaus, an ESA aerospace engineer who uses a wheelchair after a 2018 spinal cord injury, is poised to become the first wheelchair user to cross the Kármán line once the flight proceeds.
  • No new launch time has been announced; prior planning included livestream coverage and a standard 10–12 minute suborbital profile crossing 100 km with a few minutes of microgravity.
  • NS-37 is Blue Origin’s 37th New Shepard mission and 16th human flight, reflecting the company’s growing suborbital record and adherence to safety-driven launch protocols.