Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg has responded for the first time to criticism of her Australian of the Year win, saying the commentary was “disappointing”.
After the 44-year-old was named Australian of the Year on January 25, she became the target of some online critics who questioned whether she should have received the honour given she hasn’t flown to space yet.
Bennell-Pegg, who is the first astronaut to officially represent Australia and the first Australian woman to receive professional astronaut wings, has taken the criticism in her stride, instead focusing on trying to raise awareness of the lack of women in STEM and space industries.
“It was disappointing,” she told the Stellar podcast Something to Talk About.
“While it washes off me personally, it can be damaging for young people hearing it if they’re paying attention to it.”
“I can’t help the fact that I haven’t been to space. I didn’t nominate myself for Australian of the Year, but you know what?
“I’m going to use the platform gratefully because it’s an important one to showcase.
“It’s easy to get caught up with the loud minority rather than focusing on getting the job done.”
The mum-of-two worked towards her goal of becoming an astronaut for years but she never expected to be nominated for the Australian of the Year award.
“Becoming Australian of the Year wasn’t something that was ever on my radar,” she told host Sarrah Le Marquand.
“It was one of the school mums, I found out, that nominated me and it was such an honour.”
As Australia doesn’t have its own human space flight program, it might be years until Bennell-Pegg gets the opportunity to go to space.
“My focus right now is really here on the ground, making sure I remain as match-fit as I can should an opportunity arise,” she explained on the podcast.
“It would be a decision for Australia, should Australia choose to take that. Being an astronaut is a life of uncertainty, regardless of if a mission’s planned for you right away or not.
“It’s uncertainty in the selection process, in the training, if you’ll pass, in when your missions or mission will be, what happens in space.”
Bennell-Pegg, who is married to fellow spacecraft systems engineer Campbell Pegg, says she’s figured out how to block out the trolls.
“I’ve grown pretty thick skin,” she said. “People can call me what they want – I’m busy being an astronaut, I won’t be calling them back.
“You have to learn to put your shield up when you’re in a public position so that you don’t absorb too much of the good, as well as too much of the bad, because otherwise you can be prone to narcissism or leave yourself vulnerable.
“You have to find your own kind of steady centre. So I think that when women get to a position where they’re visible, we have a duty to help show that it is possible to get there and that the journey is worth it.”
To find out more about Katherine Bennell-Pegg, visit space.gov.au. Listen to the full interview with her on a new episode of the Stellar podcast, Something To Talk About, out now.