Katherine Bennell-Pegg is the first qualified astronaut to work under the Australian flag. Photo: Australian Space Agency.
Australian Katherine Bennell-Pegg has graduated from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Basic Astronaut Training in Germany, making her the first international candidate to do so, Australia’s first female astronaut, and the first qualified astronaut to work under the Australian flag.
The 39-year-old’s 13-month training program was sponsored by the Australian Space Agency (ASA), and her graduation makes her eligible for future missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
Her training included parabolic flights in a converted commercial airliner where she experienced weightlessness and practised operating experiments in low gravity, and centrifuge training to learn how to deal with the intense G-force of space flights.
She also went through survival training, including sea, fire, water and winter; medical training, including stitching wounds and starting an IV; space systems engineering and robotics, including operating the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the ISS; and how to conduct scientific experiments, including biotech and medical science.
Part of the training also included a visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and training on the ISS mock-up.
“When I dreamed of becoming an astronaut as a child, I never thought it possible to do so representing Australia,” Ms Bennell-Pegg said. “It’s an honour to be graduating as an astronaut with the Australian flag on my shoulder.
“Representing Australia is filled with opportunities to propel our nation’s science and technology forward in the global space arena and to raise the level of aspiration for the next generation.
“I hope my training and whatever comes next helps unlock the path for more Australians to become involved in human spaceflight.”
ASA head Enrico Palermo and Ms Bennell-Pegg at her graduation. Photo: Enrico Palermo/LinkedIn.
Ms Bennell-Pegg graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Aeronautical Engineering (Space) and a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) – Physics from the University of Sydney. She also received the Charles Kuller Graduation Prize for the first-placed undergraduate thesis in the School of Aeronautical, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.
In 2008, she was awarded the Sword of Honour for ”the most exemplary conduct, leadership and performance of duty”, and the Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey Memorial Award for first place in her graduating class of officers at the Australian Army’s Royal Military College in Canberra.
From 2014 to 2019, she lived in Europe and worked for AIRBUS DS GmbH in Germany as a project manager, lead systems engineer and service operations lead. In 2019, she returned to Australia to join the ASA as the assistant manager of the Chief Technology Office, and in 2022 she became the ASA’s director of space technology.
ASA head Enrico Palermo said the agency was proud of Ms Bennell-Pegg.
“She will return to Australia a qualified astronaut brimming with knowledge, insights and connections that will help generate global opportunities for our industry,” he said.
Previous Australian astronauts including Dr Paul Scully-Power and Dr Andy Thomas were trained and employed by NASA and held dual nationalities, so wore US flags on their uniforms. Both men flew in space, with Dr Thomas completing four missions on the Space Shuttle, the ISS, and Russia’s Mir space station.
“Congratulations on completing this major milestone as the first Australian astronaut,” Dr Thomas said of Ms Bennell-Pegg’s graduation. “Now you are ready to make the next giant leap, as you boldly go where no Australian woman has gone before!”
