Class 10 Student Mahima Rajput Selected for Mission ShakthiSAT 2026 | Space Kidz India | International Student Satellite Mission

Fourteen-year-old Mahima Rajput, a Class 10 student, has been selected to represent India in Mission ShakthiSAT, an international student space programme that brings together young participants from 108 countries to collaborate on satellite development and space education.

Organised by Space Kidz India, the initiative aims to provide school students with hands-on experience in satellite technology while fostering global collaboration in science and space research. As part of the programme, Mahima will travel to Delhi later this year to participate in satellite integration activities ahead of the mission's scheduled launch in October.

Mahima Rajput earns a place in a global space mission

Mahima said she came across the opportunity through her school principal and a guidance teacher, who encouraged her to apply for the programme. After registering, she completed the required training modules and was subsequently selected to represent India in the international initiative.

Her selection places her among a global cohort of students participating in one of the world's largest collaborative school-level satellite missions.

Comprehensive training in space science and satellite technology

The Mission ShakthiSAT curriculum includes 21 learning modules and 365 lessons, covering a wide range of topics related to space science, satellite engineering and mission development.

During the training, students receive theoretical knowledge as well as practical exposure to:

• Space science fundamentals

• Satellite technology

• Satellite design and construction

• Mission planning and development

• Scientific problem-solving

The programme is designed to help students understand the complete lifecycle of satellite development while encouraging interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Students from 108 countries to assemble in Delhi

According to the mission schedule, selected participants from 108 countries will gather in Delhi on August 23 to take part in satellite integration activities.

The collaborative programme will enable students from different parts of the world to work together on building satellites before the planned launch in October 2026, promoting international cooperation in space education.

Two satellites planned under Mission ShakthiSAT

Mission organisers have announced that the project will involve the development of two satellites with distinct objectives:

• One satellite will be deployed into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

• The second satellite will support a planned Moon mission, with one spacecraft expected to orbit the Moon while another is intended to land on the lunar surface.

The mission seeks to introduce students to real-world satellite development while demonstrating the possibilities of international collaboration in space exploration.

Space Kidz India leading global space education initiative

Mission ShakthiSAT was launched on January 16, 2025, by Space Kidz India under the leadership of Dr Srimathy Kesan.

The initiative focuses on encouraging greater participation of young learners—particularly girls—in science, technology and space research through structured educational programmes.

According to the organisers, more than 8,300 students have participated in the Mission ShakthiSAT learning ecosystem, which has also established collaborations with universities, aerospace organisations and research institutions across multiple countries.

With its planned launch in October, the programme aims to equip school students with practical experience in satellite development while inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and space innovators.