Overview
- Blue Origin’s NS-37 lifted off from West Texas on Dec. 20, reached roughly 100–106 kilometers, and returned after a flight of about 10–11 minutes following a scrub earlier in the week.
- The mission used a patient transfer board, elevator access, a leg strap and recovery procedures to accommodate Benthaus without modifying the spacecraft.
- Hans Koenigsmann, a retired SpaceX executive, helped organize and co-sponsor the trip, flew on the mission, and served as Benthaus’s designated emergency helper.
- The six-person crew included Michaela Benthaus, Hans Koenigsmann, Joey Hyde, Neal Milch, Adonis Pouroulis and Jason Stansell.
- Benthaus is leveraging the flight to promote accessibility and raise funds for the Wings for Life spinal‑cord research nonprofit, as Blue Origin emphasizes inclusion and targets a higher New Shepard cadence in 2026.