The Australian federal government has formally proposed sending Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the current Australian of the Year and director of space technology at the Australian Space Agency, on a mission to the International Space Station. The proposed mission is scheduled for 2028 and would represent the first time a qualified astronaut has traveled to space representing Australia.
Bennell-Pegg completed her astronaut training with the European Space Agency in 2024. While other Australians have previously traveled to space, they did so as citizens of other nations, including Andy Thomas and Paul Scully-Power on NASA missions and Elaine Hyde on a Blue Origin suborbital flight. The government has characterized the undertaking as prohibitively expensive for any single government to fund independently.
To support the mission, the federal government has been soliciting contributions from private philanthropists, state governments, and the Australian space industry. Philanthropists have committed over $6 million in cash and additional in-kind support, while several state governments have indicated preliminary backing. South Australia, home to the Australian Space Agency headquarters, has publicly pledged partnership in the endeavor. Prominent entrepreneurs Dick Smith and Jim Whalley each committed $1 million toward funding.
Proponents argue that the mission carries significant inspirational value for science and technology education in Australia. State leaders and industry figures have emphasized that seeing an Australian astronaut in space could motivate young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The government framed the mission as a complete Australian initiative that would include locally developed experiments and technology.
Experts have debated the cost-benefit analysis of the proposal, with some noting the substantial financial investment required while others point to potential long-term economic returns and the precedent of successful returns on investment from Australia’s space industry initiatives.
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