When

10 October 2024

10:15 am to 1:00 pm

Location

Questacon

Time

3 hours

Audience

Everyone

About

Have you ever wanted to ask an astronaut about the experience of weightlessness? Or the intensity of G-force? 

Join us this World Space Week to find out, as Questacon hosts special guest Australian Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg.

Hear from Katherine about the training she completed to become the first qualified astronaut under the Australian flag – and about Australia’s growing space and tech sectors. 

Bring your questions and be inspired! 

  • 10.15am – 11.00am | BOOKED OUT
  • 11.00am – 1.00pm | Meet and greet under the Moon 

Pre-purchasing Questacon admission is recommended. Bookings are required for the Q&A session as tickets are limited. 

Katherine Bennell-Pegg’s visit to Questacon is kindly sponsored by the Australian Space Agency. 

During World Space Week (4 – 10 October 2024), 3-7 year-old children and their carers can join us for a variety of other activities and demonstrations, including our interactive show 'Moon Adventure'.

Things to know

  • This event is for all ages 
  • The Q&A session with Katherine Bennell-Pegg will take place in the Japan Theatre from 10.15am – 11.00am and bookings are required 
  • Katherine Bennell-Pegg will be available to meet, take photos and sign autographs under the Moon in Gallery 8 from 11.00am – 1.00pm.
  • Questacon tickets or membership are required to attend either the Q&A or meet & greet.

About Katherine Bennell-Pegg

Katherine Bennell-Pegg is an Australian Astronaut and Space Systems Engineer. She is the first person to qualify as an astronaut under the Australian flag. 

Katherine works for the Australian Space Agency, where she has contributed to growing Australia's space capability as technical lead on scoping the nation's first Moon rover mission, developing plans to capitalise on Australia's space strengths, and managing the Access to Space Team. She has more than a decade of experience developing space programs and strategies, technologies, and missions across Europe, the UK, the US and Australia. These include the Orion vehicle that is taking humans back to the Moon, space station facilities, earth observation missions and robotic satellite capture technologies.

In 2023, Katherine took the giant leap to achieving her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, when she began training with the European Space Agency in Germany. She graduated in April 2024, and is qualified for missions to the International Space Station.

Katherine holds four degrees in science (physics major), space and aeronautical engineering. She is passionate about using human spaceflight and space to unlock opportunities for researchers and industry, as well as to inspire the next generation.