Blue Origin   Europe   ESA   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Commercial Space  
CBS News • William Harwood

Blue Origin flies German engineer Michaela Benthaus — first person with significant physical handicap to reach space

Blue Origin flew a six‑passenger New Shepard suborbital mission Dec. 20, carrying German engineer Michaela “Michi” Benthaus, who uses a wheelchair after a spinal‑cord injury. The roughly 11‑minute flight made Benthaus the first person with a significant physical handicap to reach space.

Also: The Guardian, BBC, South China Morning Post, The Independent and 6 more
2025-12-20T08:24:57.734726-08:00
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations  
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Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

Astronauts, launch teams practice Artemis 2 countdown

By Spaceflight Now: ![](http://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251220_Artemis-II_walkout_MC-1.jpeg) In a prelude to the real deal, the four astronauts of the Artemis 2 mission boarded their Orion spacecraft inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday afternoon.

2025-12-20T16:24:07.495409-08:00
Satellite   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions  
Universe Today • Andy Tomaswick

IMAP Achieves First Light on All 10 Instruments, Confirming Instrument Functionality

By Universe Today: During the deployment of new space telescopes that are several critical steps each has to go through. Launch is probably the one most commonly thought of, another is “first light” of all of the instruments on the telescope.

2025-12-20T04:43:56.587700-08:00
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
koreatimes.co.kr • Yonhap

Innospace again delays maiden commercial orbital launch of Hanbit-Nano

By koreatimes.co.kr: Korean space startup Innospace Co. said Saturday its first commercial orbit launch has been delayed again due to technical problems. The Hanbit-Nan...

Also: Yonhap News Agency, azernews.az and aa.com.tr
2025-12-19T23:50:19.818666-08:00
Satellite   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
indiatoday.in • India Today Science Desk

ISRO to launch LVM‑3 'Bahubali' carrying 6.5‑ton BlueBird‑6 satellite on Christmas Eve

By indiatoday.in: The Christmas Eve launch of BlueBird 6 will further cement the rocket’s ‘Bahubali’ reputation as India’s workhorse for big-ticket commercial and strategic missions.

Also: India Defense News
2025-12-20T00:50:13.542422-08:00