Australian defence force recruits are being asked to aim for the stars, with two new positions advertised in defence’s space command.

Applicants were invited to apply directly for the two space specialist roles – an operations officer to plan and support missions, and an operations specialist with knowledge of equipment.

Space command is now recognised as an important defence domain alongside air, land, sea and cyber operations.

“One small step into space operations means a giant leap in capability for our ADF,” Matt Keogh, the minister for veterans affairs and defence personnel, said.

“These exciting new roles will grow the ADF’s capabilities in space operations, a critical domain as we respond to the most challenging strategic environment since the second world war.”

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The ADF’s website said the force relied on space systems and information, including “meteorology, communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, positioning, navigation and timing”.

Successful applicants would undertake specialist training at the defence space and cyber school at HMAS Harman in Canberra, in a new purpose-built facility, the Florence McKenzie Building, named after Australia’s first female electrical engineer and a pioneer of modern signalling technologies.

The announcement followed the selection of astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg as Australian of the year for 2026.

Bennell-Pegg was the first Australian to qualify as an astronaut under the national space program, the country’s first female astronaut, and a reservist in the Royal Australian Air Force.

The trailblazing scientist has said she 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.

“When I received my blue flight suit, and right there, bright on the left shoulder was the Australian flag, it was quite emotional, because it marked something so much greater than myself,” she said during her acceptance speech at a ceremony in Canberra.