Opinion: Sending an Australian astronaut to space will lift more than our space industry

Australia has a rare opportunity to send one of its own into space under the national flag for the first time. The question now facing the federal government is simple: Will we seize it?

The Australian Government is considering an offer to partner with the European Space Agency (ESA) in sending astronaut and Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg on an ESA mission.

It would represent a defining moment for Australia’s growing space sector and signal our commitment to participating in the next era of global space exploration.

Beyond the immediate mission, investment in Australia’s space sector generates high-skill jobs, drives innovation, and creates new research and development opportunities for Australian scientists.

But perhaps one of the most powerful benefits lies closer to home – the influence of Katherine Bennell-Pegg as a role model for young Australians, and especially young women and girls.

The latest STEM Equity Monitor data shows girls’ confidence in STEM subjects fall as they get older, and women make up just over a third of university STEM enrolments.

Despite the majority of the fastest-growing jobs requiring STEM skills, the 2023-24 Youth in STEM survey shows no improvement in girl’s perceptions of the importance of STEM knowledge for their future employment.

Scitech is one of many organisations trying to change that.

Educators and science communicators model curiosity – asking questions and showing that science can be exciting, fun and part of everyday life.

We tell children to dream big and encourage them to follow their curiosity, wherever it leads.

But imagination needs something to hold onto. Without national icons and real examples to point to, those possibilities can feel distant.

We saw the power of this kind of inspiration during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, when the Matilda’s success drove record-breaking participation in girls’ soccer across Australia.

Having studied Human Movement at university, it has been thrilling to see the Matildas serve as a catalyst for dismantling under-representation of female athletes and bridging the gender data gap in sports science.

In the same way, Australia’s first astronaut could become a defining cultural moment that inspires thousands of young Australians to imagine themselves in a space career.

Inspiring young people to engage in STEM happens at every level: In everyday behaviour and attitudes to science modelled by parents, through experiences in classrooms and science centres, and through big national moments that shape how young people see their future.

A mission featuring Katherine Bennell-Pegg has the potential to be that moment. It would inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers, while sending a powerful message that Australia believes in its place in the global space community.

Investing in this partnership is not just about getting an Australian astronaut into space. It is about investing in the talent, ambition and curiosity of the next generation.

And for many young Australians watching from Earth, especially girls, they may see their own future differently because of it.

Elaine Purser is General Manager of Corporate Services at Scitech.