Benthaus was enrolled in the graduate trainee program of the European Space Agency in the Netherlands. In 2022, Benthaus flew aboard a parabolic airplane flight named the
Vomit Comet, which provides an environment of near-weightlessness for a brief period. In 2024, she took part in a two-week simulated astronaut mission in
Poland. In 2025, Benthaus was accompanied by fellow German engineer
Hans Koenigsmann in her mission to fly in
outer space. Benthaus herself reached out to Hans Koenigsmann to examine the possibility of whether she could realise her dream of becoming an astronaut. Benthaus joined the
sub-orbital spaceflight Blue Origin NS-37 as one of six crew members, with her trip financed by
Jeff Bezos's
Blue Origin. On December 20, 2025, the 10 minute flight launched from
West Texas at 9:15 a.m. EST. and reached 65 miles in altitude, passing the
Kármán line which is some 62 miles far away above the Earth. Benthaus became the first wheelchair user to reach space aboard a sub-orbital flight. Benthaus also advocated for the equal rights and increased inclusion of individuals with physical disabilities. After successfully entering space, she emphasized that more initiatives had to be put in place to give more space for disabled people to shine in their preferred areas of interest. Benthaus is also known for her humanitarian efforts, as the event of her spaceflight raised money for "Wings for Life", a nonprofit organization focusing on spinal cord injury research. On the 6th of March 2026, Benthaus was invited to speak alongside
ESA astronaut
Sophie Adenot at the
2026 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony. == Personal life ==