Australian officials have made a bid to the European Space Agency, hoping to secure a spot on the crew for Katherine Bennell-Pegg for a 2028 mission to the ISS. The proposal on behalf of the space systems engineer has been called a cost-prohibitive one for the Australian government and has spurred private fundraising activity. The Australian Space Agency's director of space technology completed her basic astronaut training with the ESA in 2024.

Australia's science minister is among those who have noted that such a trip would be costly for the Australian government. Officials are nonetheless optimistic as philanthropists and others step forward to help finance what could amount to a trip costing several million Australian dollars.

Other astronauts from Australia have flown into space - two as US citizens on NASA missions and one aboard the private Blue Origin's suborbital flight - but Katherine would be the first representing Australia.

She has a reputation as a visible and vocal proponent of STEM education and has been at the helm of a national education program to encourage space studies and communications.

As such, her next trip is much more assured here on earth - having completed her recent orbit through schools in the Northern Territory, the STEM ambassador talks in November to students in New South Wales.