Katherine Bennell-Pegg

This comes as the world's fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record continues to outpace efforts, and the virus has spread into eight provinces in the Congo and neighboring countries Kenya and Uganda.

And South Australia is going it alone in supporting Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg on a proposed mission to send her to the International Space Station.

The ABC reports that most other states and territories are now declining to do the same and would not provide direct finance towards the venture.

States and territories had been asked by the federal government to help fund the Australian of the Year in joining the European Space Agency's mission before the end of the decade.

... than we would have to if we kept it here, you know? And, you know, I think, I think trying to get that message across that this kind of thing matters and can be done, but we just need to get behind it.

Uh, speaking of backing our own, uh, you're also one of those that are backing the Australian astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, to get to space.

Uh, why, why the interest in that particular, um, endeavor?

Well, I think, uh, you know, space, next frontier of course.

Anthony Albanese will soon decide whether to spend money, a lot of money, sending a single Aussie into space.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg is the first astronaut to train under the Australian flag.

She's been offered the opportunity to be part of a future mission on the International Space Station, but it doesn't come cheap.

The cost is one hundred million dollars.

Uh, there'll be a randomly selected code number, a code that could open the 2GB safe, and if you get the code, and if Dee Dee gets the code next Monday, she'll be winning $20,000 in gold bullion from Jaggards.

[upbeat music] I've had so much feedback about this and my apologies for not being able to get to it earlier in the show, but I mentioned that the federal government is weighing up whether or not to spend $100 million or the best part of $100 million putting one Aussie into space.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the first astronaut to train under the Australian flag, has been offered the opportunity to be part of a future mission on the International Space Station, and the Prime Minister needs to decide whether to spend $100 million on this.

Now, my initial thought was, well, if it's gonna inspire people and get us involved in the space race, then maybe we shouldn't turn it down.

Thanks for your time today.

Dr. Brad Tucker, ANU astrophysicist and cosmologist, who's very much in favour of sending Catherine Bennell-Pegg into space.

Your thoughts? Love to hear them.

Are you happy to see your taxpayer dollars go in that direction? I don't know.

But to kick off the hour, uh, it's a big day for the Australian Space Program.

Penny Wong has become the latest political heavyweight to join calls to send astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg to space.

This will be an historic mission for the South Australian.

The first Aussie astronaut to wear the Australian flag patch on their arm.

There've been mixed reviews from some of the states as to whether they're willing to stump up the $100 million to the European Space Agency to fund this mission.

So we really are days away from that countdown of hearing whether we'll hear Katherine Bennell-Pegg will be heading to space.

We'll have to get David Bowie to redo the lyrics, Star Woman.

Bit hard with his death.

Hmm.

Uh, pressure is mounting on, uh, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to come up with the cash to send Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg-

[laughs]

... uh, to space.

Uh, and it, and it did wonders to encourage young people in particular, uh, to take an interest in science, take an interest in, uh, in astronomy.

Uh, it was a resurgence l- like nothing we've had since the Apollo era, and I can remember that well.

So, um, I think Katherine Bennell-Pegg flying on a European, uh, mission to the International Space Station, which is what it would be, would do wonders for inspiring youngsters-

Yeah