Women Love Tech’s Robyn Foyster exclusively interviews Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the first qualified astronaut under the Australian flag, and the first Australian female astronaut. Katherine is also a Director of Space Technology with the Australian Space Agency and a keynote speaker at SXSW Sydney.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg reflects on her journey from a curious child fascinated by space to becoming Australia’s first astronaut. She highlights Australia’s growing space capabilities, the potential of space exploration, and encourages young people, especially women, to pursue STEM careers with passion and purpose.
You can listen to the full podcast here.
Robyn Foyster:
It’s been an amazing journey for you, going from a girl who dreamed big to being the first Australian to wear the flag on your shoulder as an astronaut. Where did this come from?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
It’s definitely a pinch-me moment and such an honor to have the chance not only to train as an astronaut but to become the first Australian astronaut wearing the Australian flag on my shoulder. It’s a dream come true. It’s definitely the culmination of a childhood dream. When I was a kid, I annoyed everyone around me with endless questions and never accepted simple answers. I wanted to look under every rock, climb every tree, and when I was learning to surf, I wanted to know why one wave had more energy than another. I was curious about the world around me and loved adventure and being outdoors. Growing up on the Northern beaches of Sydney, where the sky was bright with stars, I would look through a pair of binoculars and see more detail. I learned that some of those stars were entire planets that no one had explored before, and I was really curious about that. As a teenager, I loved reading science books and magazines and was blown away by how much remained to be discovered through space-based telescopes, space missions, and astronaut science in microgravity labs. But Australia didn’t have a space agency, let alone a path to becoming an astronaut, so I took my career overseas, thinking that’s where I’d have to live. But with the start of the Australian Space Agency, I was able to come back home and contribute to creating space capability here, which has been really wonderful.
Robyn Foyster:
Australia’s space capability has really taken off, hasn’t it? Can you share the big improvements in the area, as we’re now able to have more astronauts, a space station, and compete globally?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
Yeah, Australia has a long and proud history in space. We’ve been involved from the beginning with our tracking stations, even having doctors supporting astronaut activities from the ground. But we didn’t accelerate our activities in space until very recently. The miniaturisation of space satellites, such as CubeSats, which are the size of a shoebox, allowed startups and universities to develop their own space missions. This really drove forward Australia’s acceleration in space. Many startups in Australia advocated for a space agency because international space agencies needed a front door to work with Australia, and everyone wants to work with Australia because we have great contributions to make to the global ecosystem. This led to the formation of the space agency, which has helped tailor our industry for a more industrialised era. One of my first roles at the space agency, which I joined in 2019, was to build a team and assess our country’s capabilities in space and adjacent sectors. We also considered what Australia needed space to do for it. It was incredible to see how much capability there was. Programs like the Moon to Mars initiative, Australia’s exploration program, emerged from this. One of the programs under this initiative is a rover going to the moon, named by a public competition, called Rover. Organisations across the country are working on developing this concept, and it’s set to launch in the next decade. This rover will carry the best of Australia’s capabilities to work with NASA and support the global endeavor to explore the moon’s south pole. We’re involved in this because there’s so much we can learn about Earth from the moon, which acts as a time capsule of early Earth. Unlike Earth, the moon lacks weathering and plate tectonics, preserving its ancient features. This can provide practical inputs into climate change models and other areas of study.
Robyn Foyster:
And geographically, we’re in a good position to help other countries who want to be part of the Australian Space Station too, right?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
Absolutely. Australia, including its waters, covers almost one-fifth of the sky, making us a major player in the southern hemisphere for deep space missions to the moon’s south pole. We’ve always been sought after for communications ground stations and tracking objects in space, such as space debris, to help explore and use space sustainably. Australia is also a great place for launches and returns, benefiting our interests and contributing to our economic growth. Our large and remote landmass also benefits from space because we need that “eye in the sky” to see and connect across our country. We stand to benefit more from space than many other nations because space is like the ocean—it’s vast and full of industries. From space, you can observe phenomena like bushfires, water quality, and pollution. You can connect remote communities, send information, and provide GPS data for farmers. Space offers significant benefits for Australia.
Robyn Foyster:
It also helps the environment, especially in mining, where they can now be more specific in their exploration thanks to space.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
Absolutely. There’s an Australian organisation using space to connect Internet of Things (IoT) sensors on the ground to help us prospect for minerals needed for electric cars and other technologies more sustainably and affordably. Space is crucial for addressing climate change. We have to monitor 55 essential climate variables, and more than half can only be monitored accurately and continuously from space. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs has a great website detailing space’s role in the Sustainable Development Goals, such as clean water, quality of life, and food security. Whether it’s monitoring conditions from space or conducting research in microgravity, space contributes significantly to these areas.
Robyn Foyster:
I learned a lot last year working with experts like Martin Rouse, who was in Australia. I saw how much money the space industry and related industries can bring to the Australian economy. It’s very exciting. If I were young again, I’d want a career in your field. But you don’t have to be an astronaut to be part of this exciting new world, right?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
Absolutely. The global space economy is predicted to triple over the next 10 years. It’s an incredible economic opportunity for our country that we’re not yet fully capturing. You can have any job and just add “space” in front of it, and it’s relevant. We need engineers and scientists, but we also need doctors, journalists, lawyers, program managers, accountants, and everyone. There are so many ways to be part of it. When I was growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut, but my colleagues and I had to leave Australia to work on the space missions we were passionate about. Now, young people don’t have to leave the country to have a compelling career in space. They can even start their own companies and contribute to missions they think are worth pursuing. There’s so much opportunity.
Robyn Foyster:
That’s exciting. We could get many more young Australians interested in this direction. You did engineering and physics at Sydney University. How did you transition into becoming an astronaut?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
Yeah, so I applied to study aeronautical space engineering physics because I love space. I knew what physics was, but I didn’t really understand engineering beyond the definition of the term. I applied just because the degree title had the word “space” in it. I’m an example of someone who was drawn into a field they wouldn’t have otherwise pursued due to a fascination with space, and it turned out to be a great fit for me. I really enjoy it. Many kids are fascinated by space—about seven out of ten want to be astronauts, and almost nine out of ten find space intriguing. We can use this fascination to encourage kids to be curious and creative, whether they end up working in space or not. There are so many problems in the world that need addressing, and we need people with that curiosity and confidence to come forward.
After I completed my degrees, I went overseas for a master’s and had the chance to live in over six countries, sometimes multiple times. I worked on some incredible space missions, like new ways to move around Mars, the human Orion vehicle service module, the International Space Station, concepts for the Lunar Gateway, Earth observation satellites, and more. After about ten years as a space engineer internationally, the Australian Space Agency was established, and I was able to come home to help grow Australian space capability. It was an incredible time. I also have a British passport through my mother, which made me eligible to apply to the European Space Agency’s astronaut selection in 2021. I was thrilled just to be able to apply, as it had been a lifelong dream. It’s something you keep in the back of your mind, hoping you’ll be ready if the chance comes, but you also focus on your current career. Becoming an astronaut is the cherry on top of any STEM career.
The selection process was an amazing adventure, with six different knockout rounds over a year and a half. Almost 23,000 people from over 22 countries applied. Each stage felt daunting, surrounded by incredible talent. I often wondered how I got through while others didn’t. But eventually, I made it to the final 25 who passed all the criteria. The European Space Agency then made an unsolicited offer to train me as an Australian astronaut, representing Australia as the first Australian flag astronaut. It was the best possible outcome, a dream come true. Not just for me, but for what it can unlock for our country, allowing scientists and engineers to be involved in human spaceflight internationally. This achievement has even accelerated the possibility of an open call across Australia for astronauts, which could inspire young people fascinated by space.
Robyn Foyster:
I think so many young people will be excited about that. I know a lot of young students doing similar courses as part of our Women Love Tech community. You’ve opened up new opportunities for them. We need role models like you. Who have been your role models?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
My role models have evolved over time. I never had one perfect hero or someone whose career I tried to follow exactly. I had to write my own story, but I learned from many people along the way. When you’re young, parents and teachers have a significant influence, and I was fortunate to have great encouragement. In the workplace, most of my managers provided good tips and guidance on how to progress. One of my first mentors at Airbus in the UK advised me to say yes to extra work whenever possible, even if it didn’t seem exciting. Another mentor said to take coffee breaks because you learn a lot from informal conversations. Those experiences were just as important as formal training.
Robyn Foyster:
And now you’re working with Lego on an amazing project. Tell us about that.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
The Australian Space Agency partnered with Lego to use space to foster curiosity and encourage careers in STEM among young people. One fascinating aspect of the partnership was at the European Space Agency, where there’s a lab called M Spaceship ESC. They do a lot of tech and 3D printing there. We experimented with 3D printing Lego bricks using lunar regolith simulant and meteorite dust. The bricks worked, and this could potentially help build structures for housing experiments on the moon. These “Lego space bricks” are on display at the Lego store in Sydney and other stores worldwide. Recently, we had a meet-and-greet at the Lego store, which was incredible. The turnout and excitement from kids with amazing questions were energising.
Robyn Foyster:
We’re about to launch a mentoring platform on Women Love Tech. Your role as a role model for women in STEM is significant. What can we do to close the gender gap in tech and STEM fields?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
That’s a great question and a complex issue. One aspect is awareness of what these careers entail. Many young women don’t know what engineering is, and sometimes career roles are seen as gendered. For example, a friend told me about her four-year-old daughter who didn’t want to wear an astronaut costume because she thought astronauts were boys. Seeing pictures of me and other women in astronaut training changed her mind. It’s important to break these stereotypes and show that STEM is for everyone. I’ve often been underestimated because I don’t fit the typical image of a scientist or engineer. It’s crucial to show that there’s a place for everyone in STEM.
Another aspect is that many women are drawn to engineering and science because of a specific passion, like space or biomedical fields, rather than just a general interest in engineering. Having a purpose-driven approach helps, especially when pursuing a challenging career. If a young person tells me they want to work in space, I encourage them to think about why—what they want to discover or solve. That purpose can be a driving force through the early stages of education and career.
Robyn Foyster:
That’s a great point. Space can teach us a lot about life on Earth, from mining to health and environmental improvements. What’s it like experiencing zero gravity?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
It’s incredible. As part of astronaut training, we immerse ourselves in analogous space environments as much as possible. We experienced G-forces in a centrifuge, simulating launches and reentries, which was intense. In zero gravity, we practiced using tools without spinning, doing CPR in unconventional positions, and walking with our feet while keeping our hands free. It’s amazing to think this could become a normal working environment.
Robyn Foyster:
I read that food tastes different in space due to fluid shifts in the body. Is that true?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
Yes, it’s true. The fluid shift in space makes you feel a bit stuffy, like having a cold, which dulls your taste. Astronauts often crave spicy and salty foods, and Tabasco sauce is very popular up there. It’s important for psychological health to enjoy meals, so a lot of effort goes into making the food taste good as well as being nutritious.
Robyn Foyster:
I recently interviewed the director of NASA’s Space Station, and NASA’s main mission now is to get to Mars, not just the moon.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
Yes, both are important. The Moon is a stepping stone for Mars. It’s closer and allows us to test technologies needed for Mars, like refueling rockets. Mars has more significant technological challenges, like getting a rocket off the planet for a return trip. It’s often said that the first person to walk on Mars is in school today, possibly even in an Australian classroom. The search for extraterrestrial life, while abstract, helps us understand life’s resilience on Earth and how it might adapt to stresses like climate change. We learn a lot from space exploration that benefits life on Earth.
Robyn Foyster:
Absolutely. Space exploration addresses existential risks humanity faces. Your work involves so much more than just the space sector; it involves the whole of society.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
Exactly. Space exploration requires international cooperation and benefits everyone. It’s essential for an emerging space nation like Australia to be involved in these big questions. It helps our industry access economic opportunities and contributes to global efforts.
Robyn Foyster:
You’re an amazing role model. Do you have a message for young people dreaming big about their future careers?
Katherine Bennell-Pegg:
If you have a dream you think is worthwhile and enjoyable, pursue it without hesitation. Don’t be concerned if you’re a minority or if you doubt your abilities. No one else will chase your dream for you. Give it your all to give yourself the best chance possible.
Robyn Foyster:
Thank you, Katherine, for your time today.
For more stories on women in space, read our post on Vanessa E. Wyche, director of the Johnson Space Center for NASA.