ASTRONAUT Dr Andy Thomas will help blast the Australian International Airshow into action next month.

Dr Thomas will be the guest of honour at the event which will be held from 10 to 15 March.

He became the first Australian astronaut to enter space in 1996, completed four space missions, a space walk, and lived on a space station for 20 weeks.

The astronaut will re-live these experiences when he addresses hundreds of students attending a careers and skills forum as part of the airshow.

Dr Thomas said he was delighted to be involved in an international event, which showcased Australia’s technological and defence capabilities. “Australia has the intellectual resources and technical skills to develop a space capability to serve the national interest,” he said.

He hoped the show would inspire young people to look at a career with a science, mathematics, aerospace or aviation focus.

“As a child I was very interested in the early space flight programs but coming from Adelaide I never considered being an astronaut a real prospect,” he said.

“Don’t give up on your dreams; education is pivotal in making them come true.”

This year’s event will pay homage to the 40th Anniversary of the first manned mission to land on the moon.