14 August 2026
St Peter’s College had the privilege of welcoming Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australian of the Year, space engineer and astronaut, for a memorable and inspiring visit with Senior School students.
As part of the visit, 15 boys were selected to take part in a special Science Faculty activity in FLS GF05. The students were chosen for their strong interest in Physics, Engineering, Science Olympiad and future STEM pathways. Rather than running a traditional question-and-answer session, the aim was to create a purposeful, student-centred experience where the boys could think, collaborate and engage with Katherine as an expert in the field.
The activity was designed under the agency name SPACE @ SPSC, with the mission title 16 Psyche. Working in groups of three, students investigated the challenges involved in accessing, mining and using resources from the 16 Psyche asteroid, a metal-rich asteroid located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Each group represented a different mission team, including Mission Control, Flight Operations, Mining, Human Factors and Survival, and Economics, Ethics and Earth Impact. This structure allowed students to consider the mission from a range of scientific and human perspectives, including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Agriculture, Engineering, Economics and Ethics.
During the session, Katherine moved between the groups, listening to the boys’ proposals, asking questions and providing expert feedback. The boys did not simply ask general questions about space. They acted as young scientists, engineers and problem-solvers, explaining their ideas clearly, recognising limitations and responding to expert questioning in real time.
Their preparation, curiosity and maturity reflected very positively on themselves and the School. They represented St Peter’s College exceptionally well.
Following lunch with Katherine, the Physics Department brought the spirit of space exploration to life with a loud, exciting and unforgettable demonstration of rocket-style motion. Mr Paul Hadfield and Mr James McRae attached two CO₂ fire extinguishers to a bike, which was then used to propel Mr Hiwa Jaldiani across the floor during School Muster.
The demonstration was based on the Law of Conservation of Momentum. As the CO₂ rushed backwards from the extinguishers, the bike moved forwards, showing the same basic principle that allows rockets and astronauts to move in space. It was noisy, dramatic and highly memorable, exactly the kind of demonstration that makes Physics feel real.
The excitement did not end there. The demonstration was repeated for the Junior School and then again for parents in the R. J. Lipman Lecture Theatre. Few schools can say they have demonstrated rocket motion in front of a real astronaut and Australian of the Year.
Through SPACE @ SPSC, the 16 Psyche mission challenge and the CO₂ rocket-bike demonstration, Katherine Bennell-Pegg’s visit became much more than an inspiring occasion. It became a genuine learning experience filled with curiosity, problem-solving, laughter, courage and scientific imagination.
It was a day that reminded our students that Science is not only about what we already know. It is about asking better questions, testing bold ideas, learning from the result and imagining what may be possible next.
Mr Hiwa Jaldiani
Head of Faculty – Science
