President Murmu Meets All-Girls Team Behind Mission ShakthiSAT from Rural Madhya Pradesh

New Delhi: An inspiring group of girl students from rural Madhya Pradesh, part of Space Kidz India’s ambitious Mission ShakthiSAT, met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan last week. The team briefed the President about their upcoming plans to launch a satellite to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in December and later send a spacecraft to the Moon next year.The initiative, led by Chennai-based space startup Space Kidz India, brings together 12,000 students from 108 countries to design, develop, and deploy a lunar spacecraft—marking a historic first in global STEM collaboration.

Founder and CEO Srimathy Kesan said that the mission showcases the transformative power of education and inclusion, as many participating girls are first-generation learners from government and rural schools.

“These girls are turning their curiosity into innovation—learning orbital science, satellite technology, and coding with confidence,” Kesan noted, adding that their journey mirrors India’s vision of scientific progress through women’s empowerment.Under Mission ShakthiSAT, two distinct payloads are being built—one for Low Earth Orbit and another for the Moon. The LEO module will launch from Sriharikota, acting as a precursor to the lunar mission.

Space Kidz India is also in talks with iSpace Japan to explore a ride-share partnership on their upcoming Resilience lunar mission.During their interaction, the students shared with President Murmu how the mission has instilled confidence, teamwork, and a sense of global belonging in them.With participation from over 100 nations, Mission ShakthiSAT seeks to encourage young girls worldwide to dream big in science and space technology.The Chennai-based organisation has already launched 19 BalloonSats, three Suborbital Payloads, and four Orbital Satellites, earning global recognition for involving students directly in space missions.