Sydney Mother Kathryn Bennell-Pegg Qualifies as Australia’s First Astronaut

Sydney mother of two Katherine Bennell-Pegg has become the first person to qualify as an astronaut under the Australian flag. Quite a few children look up at the sky and dream of one day becoming an astronaut, but only a tiny number actually reach for the stars, and an even smaller number pass the exacting training required to succeed. Growing up on Sydney’s northern beaches, Katherine Bennell-Pegg was determined to head into space. In high school, she was asked to list three careers she aspired to pursue. She only wrote down one response — astronaut. With her parents’ encouragement, she studied Maths, English, Chemistry, Physics, and Economics in her final year of high school and took part in a range of extra-curricular activities targeting a career in space. In 2007, she graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering (Space) and a Bachelor of Science in Physics. After 13 months of training, the 39-year-old mother of two became the first astronaut to graduate under the Australian flag. Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo said, “We are proud of Katherine. She will return to Australia a qualified astronaut brimming with knowledge, insights, and connections that will help generate global opportunities for our industry.” Ms. Bennell-Pegg hopes to inspire a new generation of Australians to dream big and aim for the stars.