Dutch student to gain hands-on satellite experience through global Mission ShakthiSAT

17-year-old Frederique van der Lelie from Groningen has been selected to represent the Netherlands in Mission ShakthiSAT, an international educational initiative giving girls and young women practical exposure to satellite technology, STEM and the global space sector.

Five girls from the Netherlands participated in the national educational and selection programme, receiving training in areas including satellite technology, mission planning, space ethics, systems engineering, teamwork and leadership.

The programme in the Netherlands is coordinated by Pragya Jain, National Ambassador for Mission ShakthiSAT, who has led the recruitment, educational activities and national selection process.

Following the selection, Frederique is expected to travel to India together with the National Ambassador for the international phase of the mission. There, she will join girls and young women representing 108 countries and participate in the satellite integration process.

During their time in India, participants will take part in technical workshops, educational activities, international exchanges, teamwork sessions and hands-on activities related to satellite development and integration. They will also have the opportunity to learn from professionals and institutions within the Indian space ecosystem while working alongside participants from around the world.

Creating pathways into the space sector

Mission ShakthiSAT is a free international educational initiative organised by Space Kidz India under the leadership of Dr Srimathy Kesan. The programme aims to increase the participation of girls and women in STEM by providing exposure to satellite technology, space science, innovation and leadership.

The initiative has received support from organisations within the Indian space sector, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and IN-SPACe, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre.

Initiatives such as Mission ShakthiSAT also connect to a wider challenge facing the space sector: how to introduce young people to the opportunities available in space and help them develop the skills and experience needed to pursue them.

This question is being addressed across Europe through initiatives including SpaceSUITE, an Erasmus+ project focused on strengthening skills development in the downstream space and geoinformation sectors. The project works to better align education and training with changing labour-market needs, including through skills intelligence, curricula and new learning pathways.

The transition from education into a career is another part of this challenge. ROOT, also an Erasmus+ project, focuses on career guidance and workforce development in the downstream Earth Observation sector, exploring how people can better understand career opportunities, identify transferable skills and find suitable training and reskilling pathways.

dotSPACE Foundation is a partner in both SpaceSUITE and ROOT, contributing to activities that connect education, skills development, career guidance and the needs of the European downstream space ecosystem.

Support for the Dutch delegation

Team ShakthiSAT NL is currently seeking institutional and private-sector support to help cover the costs associated with the Dutch delegation’s participation in the international phase of the mission.

Companies, institutions, foundations, government organisations and individuals interested in supporting the delegation can contact:

Pragya Jain
National Ambassador – Mission ShakthiSAT, the Netherlands
Organisation: Team ShakthiSAT NL
Email: pragyajain212@gmail.com
Phone: +31 6 44805507
Social media: ShakthiSAT NL on Instagram