Anousheh Ansari, the first Muslim woman to travel to space, has now made history by becoming the first person who uses a wheelchair to journey into space. This milestone was achieved on the mission NS-18, a suborbital flight operated by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
The mission, which was Ansari’s second journey to space, took place on October 13th, 2021. It followed a successful mission in July 2021, which saw Jeff Bezos himself, his brother Mark, Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen travel to space. The NS-18 mission was also significant as it carried the oldest and youngest individuals to ever travel to space.
Ansari, who was born and raised in Iran, moved to the United States as a teenager. Despite facing a series of challenges, she managed to pursue her dreams and achieve great success. She co-founded the telecommunications company, Telecom Technologies Inc. and after it was acquired for a massive sum, she used part of her earnings to fund the Ansari X Prize. This $10 million prize was awarded to the first non-government organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks.
In 2006, Ansari had her first taste of space travel when she became the first self-funded woman to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) as a spaceflight participant. This made her not only the first Muslim woman in space but the first Iranian in space as well.
The latest mission, NS-18, was operated by Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, which is one of several commercial space flight companies aiming to make space tourism more accessible. Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft is designed to take up to six passengers just beyond the edge of space, allowing them to experience weightlessness and view the curvature of the Earth.
The spacecraft, named after the first American in space, Alan Shepard, is fully autonomous and doesn’t require a pilot. It is reusable, which is crucial for making such trips more sustainable and economically viable.
Ansari’s latest voyage to space is not only a personal achievement but a significant milestone for people with disabilities. As the first wheelchair user to travel to space, she has broken barriers and paved the way for future space explorers with disabilities.
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