Nepal’s Chepang Students Achieve Space Milestone with Student-Built Satellite

Kathmandu. Four months ago, Nepal marked a milestone in its space history with the successful launch of a satellite developed by children from the marginalized Chepang community. The satellite, named ‘Slippers2Satellite,’ was built by nine students from Chitwan and Makwanpur and launched aboard through a Chinese rocket. The achievement drew congratulations from various figures, including then Prime Minister Sushila Karki.

Many people in the Chepang community continue to live in extreme poverty, where even purchasing a pair of slippers can be a significant challenge. Against this backdrop, students from the same community have successfully sent a satellite into space.

The satellite, developed under the Nepal Space Establishment project, weighs 1 kilogram 20 grams and is built in a rectangular tube format. It is equipped with two 5-megapixel cameras capable of monitoring Nepal’s forests, vegetation, and water sources in real time. Positioned in orbit at an altitude of over 550 kilometers above Earth, the satellite has also transmitted signals from space.

The students involved in the project were honored on Sunday at ‘SpaceCon 2026’ following its completion. While the achievement is regarded as a significant milestone in science and technology, the students themselves described it as part of a normal learning process.

One of the students, Suhan Praja, involved in the project, said he initially did not feel he had achieved anything significant. “But now, when people recognize us on the street or at events, and ask, ‘Didn’t you make the satellite?’, it has motivated me to work even harder,” he said. 

From learning to turn on a computer to launching a satellite

According to project manager Rishabh Adhikari of ‘Slippers2Satellite,’ the journey began two years ago through a bootcamp organized around the beginning of 2024 for marginalized children. 

From the bootcamp, which included 120 Chepang children from Chitwan and Makwanpur, 11 were initially selected. Later, two dropped out for various reasons, and a team of nine students completed this project.The team included students from Navodaya Secondary School and Antyodaya Secondary School, studying in grades 7 to 11.

The team comprised Sheetal Praja and Binamaya Praja from Rapti Municipality-12 of Chitwan; Suhan Praja and Rana Singh Praja from Raksirang Rural Municipality-8 of Makwanpur; Elisa Chepang from Gorkha; and Amrit Chepang from Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality-6 of Chitwan, along with Sanjina Chepang, Sumina Titung, and Shiv Kumar Chepang.

Recalling the early days, team member Sheetal Praja said, “At first, we didn’t even know how to turn a computer on and off. The teachers taught us from the beginning.”

According to the project manager, the first 15 days focused on basic computer literacy, including how to use a mouse, type, and use a webcam. Only after this foundation were students introduced to logic building, flowcharts, and coding.

Along with education and technology​

The students, who studied in a residential school, worked on the project without affecting their studies. After regular classes until 4 p.m., they spent time in the lab for about an hour daily, with longer hours during exam periods.

“Most of the time, we spent an hour in the lab. The rest of the time was for homework. During exam preparation, we spent more time in the lab,” said Amrit Chepang.

Before launch, the satellite underwent qualification and acceptance tests in Bangalore, India, and Beijing, China. On December 10, 2025, it was launched into space aboard the Chinese rocket Lijian-1 Y11, along with eight other satellites from China, the UAE, and Egypt.

Globally, around 70 percent of student-built satellites fail after reaching space. However, this satellite, built by Nepali lower secondary students, has successfully transmitted signals. Although Kathmandu’s ground station has not been able to receive the signals due to technical issues, stations in Japan and Thailand have received them.

The team said two-way communication has not yet been established due to software compatibility and ground station limitations, and efforts are ongoing to resolve the issue. Mentors, including Sajan Duwal, Anjali Dhami, Kriti Dahal, Prem Bahadur Rana, and Sangam Thapa, supported the project throughout its development.

Changed Thinking Due to Opportunity​

School principal Sister Lillian of Navodaya Secondary School said every child has equal potential and that opportunity is the key differentiating factor. She added that when given the right platform, children from marginalized communities can achieve remarkable results, and this project is strong evidence of that. The school fully supported the students throughout the process.

Following the project, the students said they gained confidence and experienced a shift in how their communities perceived them. They are currently working on developing robotics projects with support from the space agency.

Project manager Adhikari said the center has provided necessary materials, including sensors, in Chitwan, and remains committed to supporting students with initiative and creativity.

Preparation to make ‘Slippers2Satellite’ sequel​

Following the success of ‘Slippers2Satellite’, the Nepal Space Center is preparing a second version of the project. Priority will again be given to marginalized students.

According to the project manager, the engineering groundwork has been completed, and a boot camp is underway to select participants. The new team will also receive mentorship from members of the previous cohort, who will guide them through their experience.

“We will soon finalize the team and move ahead with the project,” he said.

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: बैशाख ५, २०८३ १५:२२

टिप्पणीहरू