Ira Sharma and Jasmine Bohora to represent Nepal at Mission ShakthiSAT 2026, joining delegates from 108 countries
KATHMANDU, JULY 5
Two young Nepali women have been selected to represent Nepal at Mission ShakthiSAT 2026, a global space education and satellite programme to be held in India from August 23 to 30, organisers announced.
Jasmine Bohora, selected as Nepal's student representative, and Ira Sharma, the country's ambassador for the programme, will join students, researchers and space professionals from 108 countries in the international initiative led by Space Kidz India with support from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and IN-SPACe.
Jasmine was chosen following a nationwide selection process involving 80 participants from across Nepal, who completed STEM learning modules and were assessed on their technical knowledge, leadership potential and contributions to science outreach.
Ira, an undergraduate student at Macquarie University, has been coordinating Mission ShakthiSAT activities in Nepal by mentoring participants and leading outreach programmes. During the international event, she will represent both Nepal and Australia.
The week-long programme will feature satellite mission activities, technical workshops, leadership training and collaborative projects aimed at encouraging greater participation of girls and young women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
"It has been incredibly inspiring to witness the passion and determination of young girls across Nepal throughout this programme," Ira said. "Jasmine should be immensely proud of her achievement. I hope our journey encourages more girls to believe that careers in science and the space sector are within their reach."
According to the organisers, five finalists, Manabi Gyawali, Chandani Adhikari, Prashansha Thapa, Jasmine Bohora and Astha Pandit, were shortlisted after a highly competitive selection process.
Mission ShakthiSAT, founded by Dr. Srimathy Kesan, seeks to reduce the gender gap in the global space sector by providing girls with hands-on exposure to coding, satellite systems, astronomy, engineering and mission planning through international collaboration and mentorship.
Organisers said the participation of the two Nepali representatives reflects the country's growing engagement in global STEM initiatives and is expected to inspire more young people to pursue careers in science, engineering and space technology.