Space research as a tool for disaster management
Australia’s growing commitment to space is framed not just as exploration, but as a practical instrument for protecting lives and ecosystems. Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australia’s first female astronaut and now the director of space technology at the Australian Space Agency, argues that studying space and expanding the nation’s defence sector beyond the stratosphere can yield tangible benefits on the ground. By working in concert with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and other government agencies, the space sector can help identify and mitigate natural disasters such as bushfires and floods, monitor algal blooms, and support remote industries.
From C-130 days to space leadership
Bennell-Pegg’s journey started two decades ago as an engineering intern at Richmond, Sydney, where she worked on the RAAF’s fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft. After training with the European Space Agency and graduating from the European Astronaut Centre, she became Australia’s first – and currently only – female astronaut. Now in a senior role within the RAAF reserve as a specialist capability officer, she emphasises that this path was never just about personal achievement, but about expanding Australia’s capability to harness space for national interests.
Disaster management through space technology
“Space is how we identify bushfires and floods and help to manage them, to look at algal blooms, and to support remote industries,” Bennell-Pegg has said. Her work at the Australian Space Agency centers on leveraging space-enabled insights to fill gaps in disaster response and resource management. By pairing satellite data with ground operations, Australia can predict where fires may spread, track flood extents in real time, and coordinate evacuation and relief efforts more efficiently. The collaboration with the ADF ensures that space-derived information reaches the front lines where it matters most.
Growing a diverse and capable space workforce
You need more women in space
In a field historically dominated by men, Bennell-Pegg highlights the critical role of diverse minds. She notes that roughly only 10 percent of the world’s astronauts are women, underscoring the need for broader participation to tackle complex problems. “We need all kinds of thinkers, all kinds of doers to identify and solve problems and make discoveries,” she said, adding that space can also be a diagnostic realm—“a medical test subject”—from which Earth benefits across genders. The message is clear: expanding the space workforce is essential to unlocking its full potential for resilience at home.
A proud Australian space heritage and future
With a global conference on space headed to Sydney, Bennell-Pegg argues that now is the moment to celebrate Australia’s long and proud legacy in space. From the nation’s early astronomers to rockets launched from the red dust of Woomera, Australia has always been a part of the space narrative. She emphasizes that the sector’s growth will require not only engineers and scientists but a complete industry—where nearly any job can be defined as a space job when the context is exploration, defence, or disaster resilience.
Looking ahead: space as a catalyst for resilience
As Australia expands its space capabilities, Bennell-Pegg envisions a future where space technologies are embedded across government and industry. This integrated approach promises to bolster the country’s ability to predict, respond to, and recover from environmental challenges. For a nation prone to bushfires and floods, the fusion of space science with defence and public services is not just aspirational—it is a practical pathway to a more resilient Australia.
