The opportunity to participate in the world's first all-girls lunar satellite mission, "Mission ShakthiSAT," has been officially opened for Maldivian students.

Initiated by Space Kidz India, an Indian organization, this international initiative is a program designed to train 12,000 girls from 108 countries in the fields of science, technology, and space exploration.

Representing the Maldives in this program will be Minha Faiz Rashad (Minnu), a media professional and women's empowerment advocate, who was recently appointed as the Maldives Ambassador for Mission ShakthiSAT.

Targeted at girls between the ages of 14 and 18, this program is an initiative that integrates online STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education with practical experience in satellite engineering.

Mission ShakthiSAT will be conducted in two main phases. The first phase includes a special curriculum consisting of 21 modules. These cover important topics such as physics, mathematics, coding, satellite technology, propulsion systems, PCB design, and orbital mechanics.

Accredited through IN-SPACe of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), more than 7,800 girls from around the world have already registered for this program. In this stage, the educational information required by students is provided through modern digital platforms.

In the second phase, one girl from each of the 108 participating countries will be selected and taken to India.

The students selected for this practical training program, which will be held in India from August 23 to September 2 next year, will participate alongside their respective country's ambassador and actively engage in satellite design and testing tasks. Following these activities, the aim is to launch the satellite into low Earth orbit and later to the moon.

Space Kidz India, which runs this program, is an internationally recognized organization for conducting student-focused space missions. Over the past decade, the organization has carried out more than 27 successful launches.

These include the world's lightest satellite, "KalamSat," and India's first all-girls satellite mission, "AzaadiSAT." In light of these successes, Shaktisat will become a mission that brings new hope to girls across the globe.

According to the organizers, the objective of Mission Shaktisat is not just to teach science. Instead, it involves developing leadership skills, boosting self-confidence, and bringing about cultural changes, in addition to encouraging girls to advance as future scientists and engineers.

While this initiative has garnered support from many international figures, India's former Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi, holds the position of Global Patron d'Honneur for the mission. Furthermore, Indian President Droupadi Murmu also recently met with the project team and praised their work.

The opportunity for Maldivian students to submit applications online through the official channels of Mission Shaktisat has now been opened. This program will pave the way to increase women's participation in future industries such as technology, artificial intelligence, and scientific research. As the registration process continues, this will mark the first opportunity for many students in the Maldives to participate in an international STEM activity.