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In this episode, we speak to Australia’s first official astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, about her lifelong passion for space exploration and how she pursued her dream of becoming an astronaut.
We also covered:
- The importance of international experience and cultural adaptability in the astronaut selection process and training
- The rigorous and diverse nature of astronaut training, including spacecraft systems, robotics, survival techniques, and more
- The exciting future of space exploration, including missions to the Moon and the scientific research opportunities on the International Space Station
- Advice for those interested in space-related careers, emphasizing the need for purpose-driven work and a willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone
Quotable Quotes:
“Space has always been something that’s fascinated me, so I’m thrilled that we have Australia’s first qualified astronaut, Catherine Bennell-Pegg, on the show today.”
“Working in an international environment from a project basis as well as from a life basis really made me say that there’s lots of different kinds of engineers, lots of ways to culturally come to solutions.”
“Being an astronaut is bigger than the space sector. It’s for many kinds of researchers, as well as raising the aspirations of the public as well.”
Resources:
Learn more about Katherine Bennell-Pegg and the Australian Space Agency at space.gov.au
Explore the International Space Station and its scientific research here.
Thank you to Katherine, Engineers Australia and Frank Gallagher for contributing to this episode.
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
