SA remains committed to sending Australian of the Year to space

South Australia remains committed to sending Australian of the Year to space

The full report

South Australia is the only state committed to financially supporting a proposed spaceflight for Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg. The proposed mission involves sending European-trained astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg to the International Space Station.

At least four of the states and territories have declined a call from the federal government to support funding Katherine Bennell-Pegg's proposed space mission. The New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Northern Territory and ACT governments have told ABC News they would not provide direct finance towards the venture.

Western Australia's Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson said the government had 'advocated' to the federal government to pursue the initiative but 'any financial contribution from [WA] would need to show a return on investment that aligns with the interest of Western Australians'.

The federal government is yet to announce its decision, and the deadline to inform the European Space Agency is this month. South Australia will still support the proposed mission despite most other states and territories declining to do the same.

States and territories had been asked by the federal government to help fund Ms Bennell-Pegg joining a European Space Agency (ESA) mission before the end of the decade, which includes specialised training in Germany and the United States.

The Australian Government funded Katherine Bennell-Pegg's astronaut training with the European Space Agency, which she completed in 2024.