A senior Royal Australian Air Force officer whose childhood idol was Neil Armstrong will become Australia's first space commander next year. Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts, who is currently the Head of Air Force Capability, will take over the newly created position of Head of Space Division from January. The trained engineer, who has served in the RAAF for 35 years, was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for her work in overseeing the introduction of major aviation capabilities.
Her appointment as the country's inaugural space commander comes just weeks after Air Force Chief Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld revealed planning was well underway for a new military "space command".
"I think we're probably about three or four years behind where I would rather be at the moment, but we're catching up quickly," the chief told the ABC in an interview marking the RAAF's centenary....MORE
