17-year-old Frederique van der Lelie from Groningen has been selected to represent the Netherlands in Mission ShakthiSAT, an international educational initiative aimed at encouraging more girls and young women to pursue opportunities in STEM and the 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 Dutch programme is coordinated by Pragya Jain, National Ambassador for Mission ShakthiSAT in the Netherlands, 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 to participate in the satellite integration process.
The international programme will include technical workshops, educational activities, teamwork and hands-on experience related to satellite development and integration. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with professionals and institutions from the Indian space ecosystem and collaborate with young people from around the world.
Building the next generation of space talent
Mission ShakthiSAT is a free international educational initiative organised by Space Kidz India under the leadership of Dr Srimathy Kesan. Through education and practical experience in satellite technology, space science, innovation and leadership, the initiative aims to make STEM and space more accessible to girls and young women and encourage them to consider careers in these fields.
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.
For the Dutch space community, initiatives such as Mission ShakthiSAT highlight the importance of introducing young talent to the space sector early and creating opportunities to gain practical experience and international connections. Developing and attracting the next generation of talent is an important part of strengthening the space ecosystem in the Netherlands.
Support for the Dutch delegation
Team ShakthiSAT NL is currently seeking support from companies, institutions, foundations, government organisations and individuals to help cover the costs of the Dutch delegation’s participation in the international phase of the mission.
Organisations from the space community 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