Key facts
- Australia has offered astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg a place on a future mission to the International Space Station.
- The mission is slated for 2028 and would mark the first time an Australian astronaut flies under the Australian flag.
- The estimated cost for the mission is $100 million.
- Philanthropists have committed over $6 million in cash and in-kind support.
- South Australia has publicly committed to supporting the mission.
The Australian federal government has formally offered astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg a place on a future mission to the International Space Station, slated for 2028. This endeavor aims to see the Australian of the Year fly to space under the Australian flag for the first time. The government is seeking to fund the estimated $100 million cost through a combination of private sector contributions, philanthropic support, and state government partnerships. Philanthropists have already committed over $6 million in cash and in-kind support, with South Australia publicly pledging its backing for the national initiative. Bennell-Pegg, who completed astronaut training with the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2024, is the director of space technology at the Australian Space Agency.