NEW DELHI: Gautam Buddha University (GBU), Greater Noida, has emerged as an important global platform for space science, technological education, innovation and women’s empowerment through Mission ShakthiSAT, which commenced on August 23, 2026, on the occasion of the University’s 19th Foundation Day and National Space Day. The initiative received national recognition when Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Mission ShakthiSAT, organised at Gautam Buddha University, in his popular programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The Prime Minister said that the dreams of the daughters of the country are now taking flight from Earth to space. He appreciated the Mission ShakthiSAT initiative for bringing girls from different countries of the world onto a common platform and providing them with an opportunity to learn satellite technology.
Mission ShakthiSAT was launched on August 23 during the celebrations of the 19th Foundation Day of GBU and National Space Day. The programme was inaugurated online by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Chancellor of Gautam Buddha University, Yogi Adityanath Ji. Under the mission, girls from 108 countries are being brought together on a common platform and provided training and practical exposure in space science, satellite development, payload development, electronics and systems engineering. Twenty students from India were also selected for the training programme. Scientists and experts from different countries have provided the participating students with knowledge and practical insights into various aspects of space technology.
Prof. Rana Pratap Singh, Vice Chancellor of Gautam Buddha University, said that the mention of Mission ShakthiSAT organised at Gautam Buddha University by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ is a matter of immense pride for the University. He said that GBU is committed to moving beyond conventional education and connecting students with future technologies, research and innovation. He further stated that the University is working towards establishing a satellite ground station on the campus, through which students will be able to directly receive satellite data and study it.
At Gautam Buddha University, Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla interacted with students on August 29 and shared his experiences of space with them. Mrs Veronique Herminie, First Lady of the Republic of Seychelles, along with representatives from several countries, also participated in the programme. On August 30, a special rocket-launch demonstration was organised at the GBU Campus in collaboration with IN-SPACe. Students witnessed the rocket-launching process directly and gained practical understanding of various aspects of space technology.
In another important step towards developing Gautam Buddha University as a major centre for space science and technological education, a satellite ground station will soon be established on the GBU campus. Through this facility, University students and researchers will be able to directly receive data from satellites and analyse it, providing them with valuable hands-on experience with real satellite data and strengthening their practical understanding of space research.
The successful organisation of Mission ShakthiSAT has been supported by the significant contribution of Prof. Rajeev Varshney, Dean Academics; Prof. S. Dhanalakshmi, Dean Planning and Research; and the entire Gautam Buddha University team. Their collective efforts have played an important role in making the initiative a successful platform for space education, innovation and global collaboration.
