Australia’s bid to send its first nationally flagged astronaut into space has come under fire amid claims governments have failed to commit enough funding to secure a mission.

Australian Space Agency’s director of space technology Katherine Bennell-Pegg became Australia’s first professional astronaut after completing European Space Agency astronaut training in 2024.

WATCH ABOVE: Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg still in for a chance in space

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The South Australian astronaut was offered a seat on a 2028 mission through the European Space Agency, potentially giving Australia its first astronaut to travel to space under the Australian flag.

While Australian-born astronaut Andy Thomas became the first unofficial Aussie to travel to space in the 1990s, he flew as a NASA astronaut after becoming a US citizen.

If the 2028 mission proceeds, Bennell-Pegg would become the first astronaut to fly as an official representative of Australia.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg still has a chance of flying the Australian flag in space. Credit: 7NEWS

But, despite support from industry and private backers, critics fear the opportunity could now be slipping away.

The federal government has confirmed it made a funding offer to the European Space Agency but neither Canberra nor participating states will reveal how much was pledged.

It is understood the offer falls well short of the estimated $100 million required to secure the mission.

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“I think it’s short-sighted to see this as a bad investment as part of a cost-of-living crisis,” Ryan Winn from peak body Science And Technology Australia told 7NEWS.

“It would be an absurd opportunity to miss.”

Science Minister Tim Ayres said the federal government’s proposal was designed to balance broader budget pressures.

“We have written to the European Space Agency with an offer that manages the competing pressures on the budget,” he said.

South Australia was among a small number of states to contribute funding towards the proposal.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler defended the effort, suggesting other jurisdictions had not matched South Australia’s commitment.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t seen that same level of commitment from other state governments,” he said.

Supporters argue the mission would provide a major boost for Australia’s growing space sector and inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers.