Space mission momentum builds for 2026 Australian of the Year
Australia’s ambitions in space could take a significant leap forward, with the Australian Government engaging with the European Space Agency (ESA) on a potential mission for 2026 Australian of the Year, Katherine Bennell-Pegg.
News of the ESA offer coincided with her recent visit to WA, where Auspire – Australia Day Council WA hosted Katherine for a WA Tour of Honour to launch the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards nominations campaign.
During her four-day visit, Katherine met with students, community leaders, researchers, government representatives and industry stakeholders, sharing her journey from engineer to the first professional astronaut to represent Australia. She spoke passionately about the importance of aspiration, innovation and inspiring the next generation of Australians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while encouraging Western Australians to nominate the people making a positive difference in their communities for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards.
Since then, momentum around a potential mission has been building. The Australian Space Agency is currently seeking submissions for research and space payload opportunities from industry, education, agriculture, medical, robotics, artificial intelligence and many other sectors. The survey aims to identify current, planned and emerging science, research and industry activities to help inform future space mission planning and investment.
Beyond a historic achievement of sending an astronaut to the International Space Station representing Australia for the first time, the opportunity also presents a compelling economic and strategic case. Space-enabled infrastructure supports an estimated $315 billion of Australia’s economy every day, underpinning services such as banking, telecommunications, transport, agriculture, emergency response and disaster management.
The space industry’s impact is already felt far beyond launch pads and control rooms, with technologies developed through space programs contributing to innovations now used in everyday life, from medical imaging technologies such as CAT scans to consumer products like wireless headsets. Technologies such as GPS have become so woven into our daily lives that we’ve forgotten they were made possible by space innovation.
A mission involving Australia’s only professional astronaut would also help strengthen Australia’s international partnerships, create new procurement opportunities and further grow a space industry that already employs more than 17,000 Australians generating $4.6 billion in turnover.
Morgen Lewis, CEO of Auspire – Australia Day Council WA said, “As Katherine continues to inspire Australians through her Australian of the Year platform, the question facing the nation may no longer be whether our country can afford to support the mission, but whether we can afford to miss it.”
Submissions to the Australian Space Agency’s survey close on Friday 24 July 2026.
Find out more through the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.