Katherine BENNELL-PEGG

Australian Space Agency • Group Captain in the Royal Australian Air Force (Reserve), Astronaut

Katherine Bennell-Pegg is an Australian Astronaut and Space Systems Engineer. She is the first person qualified as an astronaut under the Australian flag.

Katherine works for the Australian Space Agency, where she has contributed to growing Australia's space capability as technical lead on scoping the nation's first Moon rover mission, developing plans to capitalise on Australia's space strengths, and managing the Access to Space Team. She has more than a decade of experience developing space programs and strategies, technologies, and missions across Europe, the UK, the US and Australia. These include the Orion vehicle that is taking humans back to the Moon, space station facilities, earth observation missions and robotic satellite capture technologies.

In 2023, Katherine took the giant leap to achieving her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, when she began training with the European Space Agency in Germany. She graduated in April 2024, and is qualified for missions to the International Space Station.

Katherine holds four degrees across science (physics major), space and aeronautical engineering. She is passionate about using human spaceflight and space to unlock opportunities for researchers and industry, as well as to inspire the next generation.

Katherine is married, with two young children. She’s a keen volunteer, having worked with the Australian Army Reserves, Surf Life Saving, State Emergency Service, and Engineers Without Borders Australia. Her hobbies include scuba diving, flying, reading, backyard astronomy, surfing, sailing, basketball, netball, tennis, hiking and cycling.

Events

International Astronautical Congress 2025

29 September - 3 October 2025

Sydney, Australia

Participation: