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Katherine Bennell-Pegg has been appointed a Group Captain in the RAAF reserves a year after she was given the title in an honorary capacity.
Defence said Australia’s first official astronaut would share her knowledge of space technologies with her fellow recruits alongside her expertise on how a team brings its unique skills to a common goal.
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Bennell-Pegg completed her astronaut training in Germany in April and is now technically eligible for future missions to the ISS.
She’s currently a director at the Australian Space Agency, but her previous experience included working as a space engineer in Europe, stints with Airbus DS in the UK and Germany, and the European Space Agency in the Netherlands.
“I am thrilled to have Katherine join our ranks as an Air Force Reservist. I know she will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to all our personnel, particularly as a mentor to aviators and young Australians interested in STEM careers,” Air Marshal Stephen Chappell said.
“As a parent of two and qualified astronaut, she can also provide valuable insights into the different approaches aviators can take to balancing a challenging career and having a good work-life balance with a young family.
“I am hopeful that the skills Katherine has from her full-time role at the Australian Space Agency, will in turn assist her in her reservist capacity to help grow and build partnerships that will enhance Air Force and Joint Capabilities Group, as well as broader Defence.”
Bennell-Pegg called her new role an “absolute honour” and said she was proud to serve her country whether she was wearing her “blue flight suit or my green flying suit”.
“It’s an exciting time to be a newly graduated astronaut, and to work in space in Australia whether in the civil or Defence spheres, as the world is on the cusp of the next great space exploration and industrialisation endeavour – and we are part of it,” she said.
“Australia is punching above its weight on the world-stage and when I was overseas, international players were thrilled to see our progression and excited for what we can bring to the table in a breadth of topics – from remote asset management and field robotics, to launch and returns, to SDA and comms and beyond.”
Bennell-Pegg holds the distinction of being the first astronaut to qualify under the Australian flag. While both Paul Scully-Power and Andy Thomas previously travelled into space, both did so as US citizens.
The now-Adelaide resident is a dual Australian–UK citizen and privately applied to join the European Astronaut Corps when it was advertised in 2021.
It was the first selection process since 2009 and she was one of only 25 people to complete the program from 22,500 eligible applicants.
As part of her course, Bennell-Pegg undertook “parabolic flights”, experiencing weightlessness and operating experiments in low-gravity, and centrifuge training, meaning she learned how to deal with the intense G-force of space flights.
Australian Space Agency head Enrico Palermo said at the SIAA Southern Space Conference this year that the former Northern Beaches resident had generated a “media reach” of 75 million, despite reports her training cost the agency $466,000.
