Engaging curious minds and inspiring Australia’s future.
Aussie astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg has been delivering a wide-reaching national outreach and engagement program, developed with state and territory governments and organisations in partnership with the Australian Space Agency.
As the 2026 Australian of the Year, and the first professional astronaut to officially represent Australia, Katherine has brought her insights and knowledge to the space industry and communities across the country.
Since March, with additional support from the National Australia Day Council, the Aussie astronaut has travelled along the country’s east and west coast meeting students, educators and industry leaders – promoting the breadth of the Australian space sector and how space connects to the Australian way of life.
State governments in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia (WA), and South Australia (SA) facilitated Katherine's visits, hosting up to three to four days of engagements in each location.
From regional towns to major cities, Katherine's national program has demonstrated why space matters and encouraged young Australians to back themselves and consider STEM careers – helping build the next-generation workforce.
Our Aussie astronaut will be travelling to New South Wales later this year.
Snapshot of Katherine's national tour
Katherine inspired the community through involvement in a major event and activities in remote Queensland. Visits included:
- Participation in the World Science Festival in Brisbane, held at Queensland Museum.
- Activities in the remote town of Charleville where Katherine met with the community and school students, and also included a night under the stars.
Katherine shared her reflections at public and industry events as well as toured space facilities. Visits included:
- UNSW Canberra
- National Library of Australia
- 2026 Canberra Cyber Career Symposium
- The Australian National University
Katherine met with hundreds of future space explorers and local space industry. Visits included:
- The University of Tasmania
- Cygnet Primary School and Cosgrove High School
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery for an event involving a camp fire discussion with Palawa and Warlpiri artist and storyteller, Nunami Sculthorpe Green, and scholar and writer Professor Greg Lehman, a descendant of the Trawulwuy people of north-east Tasmania.
Katherine had engagements with the Victorian space industry, STEM learning facilities, and with university students. Visits included:
- Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSECC)
- Wyndam Tech School
- RMIT and Monash universities
- Speaking at the Victorian Government Space Industry Breakfast
- Swinburne University where she received an Honorary Doctorate
Katherine met with schools, industry and the community – bringing inspiration and spotlighting WA’s space sector and Australia’s unmatched advantages when it comes to space. Visits included:
- Boulder Primary School, Kalgoorlie, 595 kilometres away from Perth.
- A primary school forum at Scitech Planetarium.
- Government House Western Australia
- WA Space Science Education Centre
- 2026 Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference and Exhibition.
Katherine's tour to Eyre Peninsula, regional South Australia, highlighted its important role in future space exploration. Visits included:
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Meeting students at Lincoln Gardens School, Koonibba Aboriginal School and Ceduna Area School.
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Connecting with the community at Nautilus Arts Centre and Mint Bush Gallery.
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Southern Launch's operated Koonibba Test Range and Telemetry station as well as their proposed launch site Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex.
Astro gallery
Katherine's national outreach program is strengthening knowledge exchange, connecting Katherine with local industry and academia, school and university students, and the broader Australian public.
Below are some photos from Katherine's national outreach program.
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