Australia's Defence Force is venturing into space with the launch of two new specialist training centre. The move marks an important expansion of the force's capabilities as it recognises space operations as a critical domain alongside air, land, sea and cyber operations.
The defence command has unveiled two new roles: an operations officer who will plan and support missions, and an operations specialist who will possess knowledge of equipment. These positions are aimed at growing the ADF's capacity in space operations, a crucial aspect of national security.
According to Matt Keogh, the minister for veterans affairs and defence personnel, one small step into space operations means a giant leap in capability for the ADF. This sentiment is echoed by Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who has been named Australian of the Year for 2026. The astronaut is the first Australian to qualify as an astronaut under the national space program.
Bennell-Pegg's journey began with her selection as the country's first female astronaut and reservist in the Royal Australian Air Force. Her path was inspired by Paul Scully-Power and Andy Thomas, astronauts who grew up in Australia but travelled to space as US citizens in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
The new training centre will be housed in a purpose-built facility at HMAS Harman in Canberra, known as the Florence McKenzie Building. This state-of-the-art facility is named after Australia's first female electrical engineer and a pioneer of modern signalling technologies.
As the ADF expands its presence in space operations, it relies on systems and information including meteorology, communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, positioning, navigation, and timing. Successful applicants will undergo specialist training at the defence space and cyber school to equip them for these roles.
The development comes as the country responds to a challenging strategic environment since the Second World War. The expansion of the ADF's capabilities in space operations is seen as a vital step forward for national security and defence.
The defence command has unveiled two new roles: an operations officer who will plan and support missions, and an operations specialist who will possess knowledge of equipment. These positions are aimed at growing the ADF's capacity in space operations, a crucial aspect of national security.
According to Matt Keogh, the minister for veterans affairs and defence personnel, one small step into space operations means a giant leap in capability for the ADF. This sentiment is echoed by Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who has been named Australian of the Year for 2026. The astronaut is the first Australian to qualify as an astronaut under the national space program.
Bennell-Pegg's journey began with her selection as the country's first female astronaut and reservist in the Royal Australian Air Force. Her path was inspired by Paul Scully-Power and Andy Thomas, astronauts who grew up in Australia but travelled to space as US citizens in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
The new training centre will be housed in a purpose-built facility at HMAS Harman in Canberra, known as the Florence McKenzie Building. This state-of-the-art facility is named after Australia's first female electrical engineer and a pioneer of modern signalling technologies.
As the ADF expands its presence in space operations, it relies on systems and information including meteorology, communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, positioning, navigation, and timing. Successful applicants will undergo specialist training at the defence space and cyber school to equip them for these roles.
The development comes as the country responds to a challenging strategic environment since the Second World War. The expansion of the ADF's capabilities in space operations is seen as a vital step forward for national security and defence.
this is so cool that Australia is finally venturing into space 
and getting serious about defending themselves from up high, two new roles are gonna be super helpful imo 
! I mean, Katherine Bennell-Pegg is literally out of this world 
And it's not like we're losin' money or anythin', it's actually a major investment in our national security 
. What if we need to launch some sorta satellite in an emergency? We gotta be ready! 
just saw that Australia is venturing into space with new training centre 
! 
stats say 1 in 5 countries already have some form of space program 
, but this is a big deal for ADF 
. 
what's even more cool is that she started as a reservist in the Royal Aussie Air Force 
! 
. also got to love that the facility is named after Australia's first female electrical engineer Florence McKenzie 
! 
? It's also great to see more women in space exploration, Katherine Bennell-Pegg is a total inspiration! 
I can imagine how exciting and scary it must be for Katherine Bennell-Pegg when she first started her journey to become an astronaut 
. It's amazing that Australia is finally venturing into space with its own specialist training centre 
. The fact that there's a state-of-the-art facility being built in Canberra just shows how serious Australia is about taking its place among the world's top space-faring nations 
. Bring on the giant leap in capability for the ADF! 
. They need people who know equipment and stuff to support missions in space, which is a big deal 
. And it's not just about launching rockets, it's about understanding how all that tech works together. The fact that there's an actual training centre now is awesome! It's like, the first step into the unknown, but also super necessary for our national security 
. I'm hyped to see where this takes us in terms of innovation and growth 
. The fact that they've got a training centre up and running is major, like the A-Team but with spaceships 
. Plus, who wouldn't want to be part of a team that's pushing the boundaries of human knowledge? The Florence McKenzie Building sounds like some cool stuff too 
? And can we talk about Katherine Bennell-Pegg being named Australian of the Year for 2026? She's literally out of this world 
!
. But seriously, having a specialist training centre will definitely give them an edge when it comes to national security. And can you imagine having an Aussie in space, Katherine Bennell-Pegg is a total legend 
. This move is definitely a step in the right direction and I'm excited to see where it takes Australia's space program 
.
it's like something out of a movie!
maybe someone will start a petition for an "astro-themed" degree?! 
. i mean, what's next? sending aussies to fight for some nebulous "peace" in space? 
. and what's with this 'critical domain' nonsense? space ops is just some rich bloke's playground, if you ask me 
. don't get me wrong, katie bennell-pegg is cool and all, but let's not forget that she's still a product of the same system that sends us to wars in foreign lands 
. at least this new training centre will be nice to look at, i guess...
! I'm all for our ADF expanding its presence in space operations, too - national security and defence are just as important as air, land, sea, and cyber ops 
I remember when women were finally starting to get more representation in STEM fields back in my school days... it's great to see that we've come a long way since then 
.