Image by s2s Satellite Project
On December 10, a super-compact 1U CubeSat (10 x 10 x 10 cm) named Slipper2Sat (S2S) was launched aboard the Chinese Kinetica-1 rocket. It was built not by university researchers or aerospace companies, but by middle school students in Nepal, students in grades 7 and 8 from marginalized Chepang, Tamang, and Dalit communities.
The S2S project was established by Antariksh Pratisthan Nepal (APN) and funded by Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) to design, build, and test the satellite. Its broader goal is to bring valuable engineering expertise to rural areas where children may not have access to these opportunities. A team of six Nepali engineers trained the students in the new Space Systems Laboratory at Navodaya School in Chitwan, where they gained valuable knowledge in physics, aerodynamics, and robotics.
The satellite captures low-resolution images and sends them back to the laboratory for environmental monitoring, geographic mapping, and student research projects. Some of Nepal’s most disastrous floods, landslides, and earthquakes can be predicted using this satellite. By using sensors to detect electromagnetic anomalies that can sometimes indicate seismic activity before an earthquake, Nepal can use this information to evacuate citizens before any fatalities occur. Nepal, one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, can benefit significantly from this technology. Additionally, by connecting to an amateur radio (software-based Digipeater), students can track, control, and collect data from the satellite themselves, gaining valuable real-time experience in aerospace and robotics.
The development and launch of S2S represent a significant leap in both Nepal and the broader scientific community. The children in Nepal’s marginalized communities are building a fully functional satellite, demonstrating the meaningful engineering that is possible in resource-limited settings. Many educational organizations can use this model to expand access to education in rural areas worldwide and incorporate engineering and robotics into their curricula. Furthermore, building this satellite in Nepal represents a significant shift toward homegrown satellite development. Earlier satellites, such as the NepaliSat-1, were built abroad in Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Japan. Nepal is building global confidence in its space program by developing and testing its satellites domestically. Many students in rural Nepal cannot afford basic educational tools, let alone adequate satellite development equipment. S2S demonstrates what Nepal and the world can accomplish in bringing education to every child. When given proper mentorship, students can learn, grow, and produce world-class innovations. Beyond its educational value, S2S also has scientific value. Nepal is one of the most earthquake, landslide, and flood-prone countries in the world. With S2S, seismic and photographic data can help scientists anticipate when the next natural disaster will occur.
Finally, this mission carries the weight of possibilities. A small nation with limited resources sent a student-built, working satellite into space, helping to save lives and expand children’s education in Nepal. This accomplishment sends ripples across the globe, signaling that scientific education extends beyond wealth to opportunity, mentorship, and imagination. Slippers2Sat is more than a satellite; it’s a statement to global youth about what is possible.
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