Podcasts · Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

Australia's First Astronaut: The Artemis Program, Mars Mission and Elon Musk.

5 May 2026 · 52 min

Dr Katherine Bennell-Pegg is the first astronaut to be trained under the Australian flag and a critical voice in the nation's emerging space ambitions.

From her headquarters at the Australian Space Agency in Adelaide, Katherine reveals how Australia is playing an essential role in the Artemis moon programme and why space exploration delivers genuine economic returns.

She discusses the rigorous process of becoming an astronaut, the real risks involved in space travel, and how her engineering background shaped her journey from designing space stations to potentially living in them. The conversation explores everything from toilet malfunctions on Artemis missions to the radiation challenges facing future Mars explorers.

We also talk about...

• Australia's $7 return for every $1 invested in space programmes • The five major hazards astronauts face in space • How Australian technology supported Artemis 2's critical moon mission • The reality of radiation exposure and medical risks for astronauts • Why the International Space Station has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize • Australia's role in the global space race versus international collaboration • The technological hurdles preventing humans from reaching Mars

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