12,000 Girls From 108 Nations Unite to Build Lunar-Bound ShaktiSat
Schoolgirls from 108 countries are building ShaktiSat, a satellite aimed at the Moon, in a global STEM initiative led by Space Kidz India.
Greater Noida recently hosted a unique gathering: schoolgirls from 108 countries, united by a single ambition to build a satellite destined for the Moon. The initiative, named Mission ShaktiSat, is spearheaded by Chennai-based Space Kidz India, an organisation known for introducing young people to space science and satellite technology.
The programme aims to involve 12,000 girls worldwide, providing them with hands-on exposure to space science, coding, electronics, payload systems, satellite structures, and mission design. Dr. Srimathi Kesan, Founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, stated that the objective is to create satellites that will first operate in Low Earth Orbit and eventually contribute to a lunar mission.
While senior engineers guide the process, the girls are actively involved in major aspects of the project, including building the engineering structures. The mission's roots trace back to Space Kidz India's earlier satellite missions involving girls, which inspired the decision to expand the concept globally.
The mission carries a symbolic objective: a launch date of October 11 has been requested, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child. Dr. Kesan noted this would send a powerful message from India to the world.
Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently flew to the International Space Station, interacted with the participants. He emphasised the collaborative nature of space exploration, praising the girls for coming together to build a single payload and satellite. He also drew inspiration from his own mission commander, Peggy Whitson, highlighting her resilience as an example for the young attendees.
Participants described their roles, which ranged from working on satellite structures and thermal systems to coding and solar panels. One 12-year-old girl travelled alone from Benin to participate. Many of the students were previously hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, receiving encouragement for their work. The programme is supported by ISRO, INSPACe, and Gautam Buddha University.