Blue Origin has completed its New Shepard NS-37 suborbital flight in December 2025, carrying six people beyond the Kármán line and marking a milestone for accessibility in human spaceflight. Jenny Southan reports

At the end of last year, Blue Origin successfully flew the 37th mission of its New Shepard suborbital spaceflight programme, sending six people past the internationally recognised boundary of space from its Launch Site One at Corn Ranch in West Texas.

This flight, known as NS-37, marked a first in human spaceflight by carrying a person who uses a wheelchair above the Kármán line, the roughly 62-mile altitude that separates Earth’s atmosphere from space.

The mission lifted off on December 20, 2025 after an earlier attempt was postponed when ground teams found a pre-flight issue.

Once in the air, the autonomous New Shepard rocket took the crew on an 11-minute journey that offered a few minutes of weightless experience before the capsule safely returned to Earth under parachutes. Prices are not made public but applications on the website require a US$150,000 refundable deposit.

Among the six aboard was Michaela “Michi” Benthaus, an aerospace and mechatronics engineer who has used a wheelchair since a spinal-cord injury in 2018.

Her flight set a milestone for accessibility in space, highlighting efforts to make suborbital travel possible for people with a wider range of physical abilities.

The other crew members were Joey Hyde, Hans Koenigsmann, Neal Milch, Adonis Pouroulis and Jason Stansell, representing a mix of scientists, engineers and space enthusiasts.

Blue Origin said the diverse group reflects the growing interest in space travel from individuals with different backgrounds and professional experiences.

Phil Joyce, senior vice-president of New Shepard at Blue Origin, says the successful launch and landing of NS-37 shows the company’s progress in increasing flight cadence and opening access to space for more people.

He says: “NS-37 marks our ninth flight of the year and sets the stage for an increase in New Shepard flight rate in 2026 and beyond. This crew exemplifies the breadth and diversity of people who can now experience spaceflight, from engineers and scientists to entrepreneurs, teachers, and investors from all over the world.

"Each brings their unique perspective and passion for exploration. Michi's flight is particularly meaningful, demonstrating that space is for everyone, and we are proud to help her achieve this dream.”

The New Shepard system is fully reusable, with both rocket and capsule designed to fly multiple times, reducing cost and environmental impact. Including this mission, New Shepard has now flown more than 90 passengers above the threshold of space.