Watch the following interview with Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who shares her journey to becoming an astronaut and offers insight into the realities of space science and training. In this engaging conversation, Katherine reflects on her career path, the challenges and opportunities of preparing for life in space, and what it means to represent Australia in the global space community.

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Watch the video below as Katherine responds to scenes from Space Nova Series 2. Through these examples shes shares how Space Nova takes inspiration from real scientific principles, while also using imagination to create exciting, futuristic ideas that aren't always possible in real life.

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Learn more about Katherine by reading the following interview with Katherine Bennell-Pegg on her career development: https://www.space.gov.au/Katherine-Bennell-Pegg

After watching the interview with Katherine, hold a class discussion to answer the following questions:

• What aspects of Katherine Bennell-Pegg’s career as an astronaut do you find most inspiring, and why? How do you think her training differs from what we see in Space Nova?
• Katherine talked about the importance of teamwork in space missions. Why do you think teamwork is essential for astronauts and how does this idea relate to the teamwork seen in Space Nova?
• In the interview, Katherine discussed the difference between real space science and what is shown in science fiction shows like Space Nova. Can you think of examples from Space Nova where the show was realistic, and others where it was more fictional?
• Can you think of other television shows, films, or books that combine real scientific concepts with fictional storylines?
• What are some of the biggest challenges astronauts face when preparing for space travel? How do you think the characters in Space Nova would handle these challenges?
• After hearing from Katherine about her experiences, what parts of space exploration would you be most excited to experience? 
• How would you apply the skills she talked about in your own future career or hobbies?

Delve into the various careers available in the space industry by exploring the Careers in Space booklet from the Australian Space Agency. The booklet highlights a range of roles in the field, from astronauts and engineers to scientists, project managers and technicians.

After reading, talk to the person next you and answer these questions:

• Which roles in the space industry interest you the most, and why?
• What skills do you think are needed for these roles?
• How do these careers help with space exploration and technology?

Choose one career from the booklet that interests you the most. Do some additional research to learn more about it. Find out:

• What does someone in this job do every day?
• What qualifications or skills are required?
• How does this role contribute to space missions?

Teachers, you may like to download the Rocket your Career poster to display in your classroom here.

Take the Australian Space Agency’s short, interactive quiz to explore what a day on the Moon might look like in different space careers. As you navigate through the quiz, you'll discover which role in the space industry best suits your skills, interests and strengths. Does it match up with the space career that interested you in Task 3?

https://www.space.gov.au/career-quiz

Australia has played a significant role in the history of space exploration, contributing to various key developments since the 1950s. Our nation has been involved in a wide range of space-related activities, from launching rockets and tracking space missions to pioneering new technologies and advancing scientific understanding of space.

Explore the Australian Space Agency’s interactive Australian Space Milestones timeline. This timeline highlights key events and achievements in Australia’s space history, such as significant rocket launches, the establishment of space research facilities, and Australia’s participation in international space missions.

https://www.space.gov.au/australian-space-milestones

While exploring the timeline and resource, take notes on:

• Important events in Australia’s space history
• People or teams involved in these events
• Any specific milestones that stand out to you

Once you have explored the timeline, reflect on the following questions:

• How has Australia helped with space exploration?
• What milestone do you think was the most important and why?