Katherine Bennell-Pegg will arrive in Germany next month for astronaut training with the European Space Agency.

This is the first time an Australian astronaut will be trained as an Australian citizen; in the past, they’ve been trained as citizens of other nations.

As the current Director of Space Technology at The Australian Space Agency, Katherine will remain an employee.

Once her intensive training is complete, Katherine will be eligible to be assigned on missions to the International Space Station.

See more highlights from Deborah Knight below: