Katherine Bennell-Pegg

Katherine Bennell-Pegg
Bennell-Pegg in 2025
Born (1984-12-15) 15 December 1984
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Education
OccupationsAstronaut, space engineer, bureaucrat
EmployerAustralian Space Agency
Space career
RankGroup captain (honorary), Royal Australian Air Force
Selection

Katherine Bennell-Pegg (born 15 December 1984) is an Australian space engineer and qualified astronaut, although she has not as yet flown in space. As of 2025 she is director of space technology at the Australian Space Agency, an Australian government agency. In 2024, she became the first qualified astronaut under the Australian flag as well as the first female Australian to be trained as an astronaut. In January 2026 she was named 2026 Australian of the Year.

Early life and education

Katherine Bennell-Pegg was born on 15 December 1984 in Sydney[1] and grew up in the Northern Beaches area.[2][3] She attended Queenwood School for Girls in Mosman.[4][1]

She completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Aeronautical & Space Engineering, and a Bachelor of Advanced Science majoring in physics at the University of Sydney,[5] graduating in 2007.[1] She received the Charles Kuller Graduation Prize for her undergraduate thesis.[6][7]

Upon completion of her double degrees, Bennell-Pegg received an Erasmus Mundus full scholarship to study in Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands as part of the Joint European Master in Space Science and Technology programme.[8] Under this program, she completed a Masters of Science in Astronautics and Space Engineering at Cranfield University in England and a Masters of Science in Space Technology at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden,[6][7] both in 2010.[1]

During her university education, Bennell-Pegg also completed the Space Studies Program at the International Space University, from 29 June to 28 August 2009 (SSP09)[9] at the NASA Ames Research Center. The 131 participants from 35 countries undertook three projects: ACCESS Mars: Assessing Cave Capabilities Establishing Specific Solutions; SAFEN EARTH: Space Aid for Energy Needs on Earth; and DREAM: Disaster Risk Evaluation and Management.[10]

Bennell-Pegg also served in the Australian Army Reserve, for which she was awarded the Sword of Honour and the Sir Thomas Blamey Memorial Award.[11]

Career

Bennell-Pegg is a qualified professional astronaut and space engineer, although as of December 2025 has not been into space.[12][13]

Airbus

Bennell-Pegg's first job after her MScs was as a mission systems engineer at Airbus UK and Airbus Defence and Space Germany, where she worked as a project manager, lead systems engineer, and service operations lead from 2014 to 2019.[14][15] In her various roles at Airbus, she worked as a thermal architect on the LISA Pathfinder project; contributed to advanced ISRU (in-situ resource utilisation) technologies and a Martian vehicle design; developed an InSAR mission concept to measure ocean surface currents; and headed a team tasked with designing concepts for Orion missions.[9]

Australian Space Agency

In 2019 Bennell-Pegg accepted a position as the assistant manager of space capability and robotics and automation at the Australian Space Agency based in Adelaide, South Australia. In March 2022 she was promoted to the role of director of space technology.[16][11]

Australian training

As a British-Australian dual citizen, Bennell-Pegg applied to join the European Astronaut Corps in early 2021,[17] in the first intake since 2009.[18] She was one of the 25 finalists for the 2022 ESA Astronaut Group, but was not selected as part of the 17-person crew.[19] However, the Australian Space Agency sponsored her training with the European Space Agency (ESA), announcing in March 2023 that she would train alongside the mission crew at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC)[17] in Germany.[16] This marked the first time ESA provided basic training to an astronaut candidate from an international partner, making the EAC the third centre in the world to do so.[20] Bennell-Pegg was one of a class of six, selected from 225,000 applicants worldwide.[21] She completed the ESA Basic Training curriculum and graduated with her ESA classmates from "The Hoppers" group on 22 April 2024 as a fully-qualified astronaut.[22][23][24]

Bennell-Pegg became the first Australian woman to qualify as an astronaut,[25] and the first person to train as an astronaut under the Australian flag. Previous Australian-born astronauts, Paul Scully-Power and Andy Thomas, flew to space as US citizens representing NASA.[2] UK-born Australian citizen Meganne Christian was also selected as a member of the 2022 ESA astronaut reserve, representing the UK Space Agency.[26]

Royal Australian Air Force

On 5 December 2024, Bennell-Pegg was appointed as a reservist group captain in the Royal Australian Air Force in the role of a specialist capability officer in the Air Force Reserve. Her duties include instructing and informing colleagues about human performance optimisation, space capabilities and technologies, and how to build the necessary resilience for a resourceful, ready and inclusive workforce.[27]

Awaiting space flight

As of January 2026, Bennell-Pegg is still waiting to be called up to undertake a space flight.[28]

Other activities and roles

In November 2009 it was announced that Bennell-Pegg, future husband Campbell Pegg, and a third student had conceived and developed the idea for a reality TV series named Starwalker, which would select and train two amateur astronauts. Jonathan Nolan, a disbarred attorney, was listed as showrunner and executive producer. The press release mentioned the participation of physicist Stephen Hawking, but a representative for Hawking later denied any involvement. The three students left the project a few weeks after the announcement, and it was continued by Nolan.[29] The couple issued a statement saying that they had presented their idea to Greg Smith, who had brought in Nolan, but they had disassociated themselves from the project on 7 December 2009 and had received no financial benefit from it.[30] The project later collapsed[31] amid claims of financial mismanagement.[32]

In 2022, Bennell-Pegg delivered The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering Innovation Lecture.[11]

She is a delegate of the American-Australian Leadership Dialogue,[33] and mentors junior space engineers regularly.[33] She engages with school students to inspire them to study STEM subjects, as well as talking to industry leaders and community groups to advocate for the growing Australian space industry.[21]

Recognition and awards

Personal life

Bennell-Pegg has volunteered with SA Surf Life Saving, NSW State Emergency Service, and Engineers Without Borders Australia.[33] She has enjoyed hobbies such as scuba diving, flying, surfing, basketball, sports coaching, tennis, reading, hiking, and cycling.[33]

Bennell-Pegg married spacecraft systems engineer Campbell Pegg, a fellow graduate of the University of Sydney.[39] As of August 2025 she lives in the Adelaide suburb of West Beach, with her husband and two children.[33]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "2026 Australian of the Year Awards Announced" (PDF). Australian of the Year. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Adelaide woman to become first female to train as astronaut under Australian flag". ABC News. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  3. ^ Strahan, Nicole [@10NewsFirstMelb] (8 March 2023). "Katherine Bennell-Pegg reaches for the stars" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 March 2023 – via Twitter. Sydney-born scientist Katherine Bennell-Pegg could soon be rocketing to the stars...
  4. ^ Evans, Simon (12 September 2024). "The Sydney-born astronaut who learnt Russian in eight weeks". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  5. ^ "G'day space: Australia is "go" for launch". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Katherine Bennell-Pegg: Australia's First Astronaut Makes History". IEEE Spectrum. 4 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Katherine Bennell-Pegg: Australia's First Astronaut Makes History". Boardroom. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  8. ^ "SpaceMaster News". Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Katherine Bennell-Pegg Astronaut Australian Space Agency". The Karman Project. Retrieved 27 December 2025. In the course of her studies she also attended ISU SSP09.
  10. ^ "Past SSP's". International Space University. 26 September 2025. Archived from the original on 17 December 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  11. ^ a b c "G'day space: Australia is "go" for launch". News & Opinion. The University of Sydney. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Katherine Bennell-Pegg". Australian of the Year. Archived from the original on 30 November 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Katherine Bennell-Pegg". Science & Technology Australia. 14 August 2025. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  14. ^ "Katherine Bennell-Pegg: Australia's First Astronaut Makes History". IEEE Spectrum. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Mission accomplished as first female Aussie astronaut graduates from European Space Agency training". PS News. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  16. ^ a b "Katherine Bennell-Pegg". Australian Space Agency. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Australian astronaut candidate to receive basic training with ESA". European Space Agency. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  18. ^ a b "RAAF honour for astronaut in training". Space Connect. 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  19. ^ "History made: Australian woman Katherine Bennell-Pegg to be trained as an astronaut by European Space Agency". Department of Industry, Science and Resources. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Katherine Bennell-Pegg". www.esa.int. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Kuper, Stephen (17 November 2025). "Katherine Bennell-Pegg recognised as South Australia's 2026 Australian of the Year". Space Connect. Archived from the original on 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  22. ^ "The Hoppers". www.esa.int. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  23. ^ "ESA's astronaut class of 2022 graduate". www.esa.int. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Katherine Bennell-Pegg graduates as an Australian astronaut". Department of Industry, Science and Resources. 17 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 June 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Katherine Bennell-Pegg and Xin Liu". Powerhouse Museum. 1 April 2025. Archived from the original on 15 September 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  26. ^ "Meganne Christian". www.esa.int. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Down to Earth asset for Air Force". Defence Australia. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  28. ^ De Silva, Zac (26 January 2026). "Trailblazing SA astronaut is Australian of the Year". InDaily. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  29. ^ Messier, Doug (23 November 2009). "Astronaut Reality Series Set to Begin". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved 25 July 2024. The three ISU alumni left the show within weeks after this blog post was published... The show has continued under Executive Producer Jonathan Nolan, a former attorney who was disbarred in Australia for embezzlement from a trust fund he controlled.
  30. ^ "Starwalker Founders Explain Their Departure From Astronaut Reality Show". Parabolic Arc. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  31. ^ Moses, Asher (12 April 2010). "Waste of space: how astronaut reality show hit black hole". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  32. ^ Angus Dalton, Stephen Brook. "Australia's space industry power couple go from failed reality show creators to global stars". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2 October 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Katherine Bennell-Pegg". Australian Space Forum. 27 June 2025. Archived from the original on 8 August 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  34. ^ "Karman Fellows". The Karman Project. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  35. ^ Polymeneas, Evangeline (7 March 2023). "Out of this world: South Australia's best recognised in Woman of the Year Awards". The Advertiser. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 9 March 2023. The sky was not the limit for the winner of the OCPSE Leader of the Year and overall winner, Katherine Bennell Pegg, who dreamt of being sent to space...
  36. ^ Keane, Daniel (15 November 2025). "Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg named SA's Australian of the Year". ABC News. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  37. ^ Chrysanthos, Natassia (25 January 2026). "Australia Day 2026: Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg named 2026 Australian of the Year". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  38. ^ Maskiell, Lois (25 January 2026). "Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg named 2026 Australian of the Year". ABC News. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  39. ^ "Alumna Katherine Bennell-Pegg makes history as Australias first astronaut". The University of Sydney. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
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