Satellite built by Chepang student of Nepal, reaches space

In the age of technology, every new generation brings something new. Students from the Chepang community are also exploring new things. The latest example of this is – Slippers to Sat.

Students from the Chepang community studying at Navodaya Secondary School in Chitwan took a historic step in Nepal’s space research by building a satellite.

Through the ‘Slippers to Sat’ project, these teenagers, with limited resources and tireless effort, built a satellite, which is set to be launched from neighboring China on September 15.

The ‘Slippers to SAT’ project was launched in 2081. At the initiative of Space Foundation Nepal, 120 students from Navodaya and Antodaya Secondary Schools in Chitwan were selected for training. Over the course of 7 days of training, they were taught basic electronics, computer operation, and coding.

“We didn’t know what a satellite was at first,” said Amrit Chepang, a student participating in the project. “We were even afraid to turn the computer on and off. We had never used a computer before. But the mentors taught us in a simple way.”

The training taught students basic knowledge of electronics, taking photos with cameras, drawing, and coding. Nine students from classes 8 and 9 were selected for the main responsibility of building the satellite. Their selection was based on their active participation and learning during the training. The schools concerned have been very supportive, says Rishabh Adhikari, project manager of ‘Slippers to Sat’.

Building a satellite with students who did not know how to use computers was not as easy as expected. The journey was very challenging. The Chepang students had to balance school studies, homework, and project responsibilities. It was not as easy as expected to carry out such a project at the school level and regular studies. In the morning, they would study regular classes at school, and in the afternoon from 4:30 to 6 pm, they would work on the satellite. In the evening, they would complete their school homework.

These nine students had six mentors to help them with the satellite work. They worked on various missions of the satellite. According to student Amrit, there are four main missions of the satellite.

First, a camera mission that helps study the amount and natural conditions of water on the Earth’s surface.

Second, the Epidemic mission, which detects small movements on the Earth’s surface shortly before an earthquake occurs.

Third, the ADCS (Attitude Determination and Control System), which controls the direction of the satellite using magnets.

And, fourth, the digitizer, which transmits information from one place to another.

For these missions, the satellites are equipped with ‘bus systems’ such as onboard computers, electronic power systems, and communications systems.

Meanwhile, the students learned technical tasks ranging from 3D printing to coding. ‘We gradually learned coding and 3D drawing,’ said Amrit. ‘Initially, we made simple drawings, then worked on 3D designs.’

Thus, after 14 months of tireless efforts, the construction of the satellite was completed on 15 Ashar 2082. This satellite is now in the phase of being operated through a ground station and collecting data. Parents are surprised that these students, who were afraid that even touching the computer would damage it, built the satellite.

Sheetal Praja, Suhan Praja, Sajina Chepang, Elisa Praja, Binamaya Praja, Shivakumar Chepang, Sumina Titung, Rana Singh Chepang and Amrit Raja are happy with their leap.

“We didn’t believe at first that we could make a satellite. Our parents didn’t believe in these things either. But now they say, ‘You really made it,'” Amrit said.

It was amazing in itself that a Chepang student built a satellite in his village school. The parents never believed that their children would do such things in life.

Sheetal Praja, Suhan Praja, Sajina Chepang, Elisa Praja, Binamaya Praja, Shivakumar Chepang, Sumina Titung, Rana Singh Chepang and Amrit Raja are happy with their leap.

“My parents at home didn’t believe me. How could they believe me? In the current situation, the idea of our community reaching space was like a dream for now,” Amrit said.

These students, who live in the rural areas of Chitwan, have a modest family background. Most families earn their living by selling chiuri and doing small-scale farming. So when they told us that they were building a satellite, even their friends laughed. They teased them. No one in the village believed this.

Now this student’s thinking has also changed. Initially, this student, who dreamed of becoming a teacher, has been able to extend his dreams to space with the success of ‘Slippers to SAT’. Amrit is also thinking of studying science now. He wants to become an engineer.

Amrit excitedly told Online News, “I want to work in space research.”

Meanwhile, even though the satellite work is completed, it is not time to leave the project. Along with studies, the work of collecting and analyzing data from the ground station after the satellite launch will continue. Since the satellite provides earthquake early warning, the amount of water on the earth, and other scientific information, they will have to keep it updated regularly. Chepang students will do this work in collaboration with the Space Foundation Nepal.

When this satellite is launched from China into space, these students believe that it will be a proud moment for the Chepang community and a step forward for Nepal’s scientific future. Rishabh Adhikari, who works at the Space Foundation Nepal and is also the project manager of Sleepers to SAT, also says that it is a matter of pride for the Chepang students to travel in space like this.

Indeed, the satellite built by students from the Chepang community at Navodaya Secondary School in Chitwan is a major step forward in Nepal’s space research. It is not uncommon for students from that background to do work of this level. The reason is that the ‘Slippers to SAT’ project, led by Rishabh Adhikari, Project Manager of the Space Foundation Nepal, has connected rural students to space technology.

“Our goal was to provide opportunities to students with limited resources,” the official said. “This satellite, which was completed in Ashar 2082, is now preparing to be launched from China on September 15.”

The project, which reached Chepang students, had to go through various stages. Initially, the project started with a four-day training in three schools in Lamjung, Makawanpur and Chitwan. Training was given at Bhairav in Lamjung and Shree Rastriya School in Makawanpur. But due to transportation and infrastructure problems, the Space Foundation Nepal considered Navodaya as suitable.

The accessibility and lab structure of Navodaya in Karaiya, Chitwan made the work easy. Students from Antodaya there were also attracted to Navodaya, by arranging scholarships. The local principal and parents got along well with this. Finally, three students from Antodaya School were brought to Navodaya and the project was completed. Adhikari said that after the satellite was built, the three students returned to Antodaya School. ‘The fact that they showed interest in coming to a distant school for this project also shows how passionate the students were,’ said Adhikari.

Even with all these arrangements, it was not easy to teach. Because, the students had heard of computers, but had not touched them. They were afraid to touch them properly, even to open them. The team taught basic computer operation, coding and 3D design. ‘We taught with very simple language and a lot of patience. Their curiosity also encouraged us,’ says Adhikari.