Now 18, it is involved in aerospace projects with other young women through the Shakthi SAT initiative and is anxious to explore the intersection between computer engineering and science, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous robotics and integrated systems that control satellites, drones and rockets.
“I am learning things that I only dreamed of, and we are going to launch our own satellite. How great is that!” She told him UN news.
But, the perspectives at home in Nepal, an impoverished nation with a nascent space industry, are very limited.
“Our parents usually do not want us to pursue ‘risky’ races,” he said.
‘My interest is to make humans multiply’
When she was a girl who grew in Hasselt, Belgium, Kaat Degros thought that becoming an astronaut in the highly competitive space field and dominated by men would never happen.
Today, at age 15, he has already designed his own sustainable research base in Mars, acclaimed by the Academy of Excellence of Oxford.
“My interest is to make humans multiply,” he said.
Demystifying space races
A new association between the Space4women project of the UN Office for External Space Affairs (oneo) and the Cosmic Girls Foundation is gathering young women and girls such as Mrs. Maharjan and Mrs. Degros from around the world to explore how they can shape the future of space and prosper in various roles, from the space economy and the law to engineering, politics and innovation.
More than 30 girls participated in a global web seminar at the end of July on “demystifying space careers: not only astronauts”, the first of a series of collaborations to unite the global scope of one and the base network of cosmic girls.
Two women leaders, space economists of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Legal Officers of the Kenyan Space Agency, shared practical advice on how to enter the sector, regardless of the background and questions asked about academic and professional routes, networks, access to resources and the treatment of rejection.
NASA Astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Naoko Yamazaki and Stephanie Wilson perch for a photo at the International Space Station.
Building a space ecosystem
The girls left with several messages: be their own cheerleader, look for mentors and allies, keep disciplined, but follow their passion and join the space communities.
“We are building an ecosystem that equips girls around the world with Stem skills, astronaut training and the mentality to innovate for the future of humanity between the stars,” said Mindy Howard, founder and executive director of Cosmic Girls Foundation, based in the Netherlands and the United States.
The association will influence policy formulators to adopt a new vision of the space sector where men and women are equal partners, said the Unne-Claire Grossias programs officer, Grossias,.
“It is a project very focused on humans. Through this connection we can move towards gender equality,” he explained.
Historical study: the still blind space sector
Despite the progress in recent years, women are still significantly sub -present in the field, especially in leadership roles. Only 11 percent of astronauts have been women, and represent only 30 percent of the workforce in organizations in the public space sector, according to the historical study 2024 of the Space4women project on gender equality.
Guaranteeing a significant role for women not only feeds productivity and profits; It leads to greater global collaboration, construction of consensus and lasting peace, according to the study.
The idea of ​​the survey was conceived at the meeting of experts in women Space4women 2023. The meeting of experts in a global United to prepare the first UN gender transmission tools game to help space organizations dismantling gender bias and discriminatory practices and creating environments where women can succeed together with male colleagues in space science, technology, innovation and exploration.
Mindy Howard during parabolic flight training.
Promote astronaut pipe
Since its inception in 2017, the Space4women project has worked with professionals in the space sector committed to mentor of more than 270 girls from 68 countries.
Mrs. Howard, a mentor since 2020, has brought together almost 1,000 girls from 139 countries through her educational forum and cosmic girls networks. With the program partners in Africa, Asia, Europe, America and Oceania, the Cosmic Girls Foundation has launched the first world competition to train six girls, one in each continent, with the knowledge of space science, life skills and mental preparation to become astronauts. The Grand Prix for one will be a trip to space.
“Competition is a dream come true,” said Mrs. Degros. “I was hoped to succeed as an astronaut and astrophysicist.”
Building trust in a safe environment
Supporting girls from an early age in a cozy and nutritious environment is crucial to help them gradually try the waters and bring very necessary female features and collaborative approaches for problem solving to the field, Mrs. Howard said.
“His parents often girls are often not good enough, they are not intelligent enough. This is a safe environment so that they can improve their skills, which will help them later,” he said.
They already feel safe.
“This feels like something extraordinary, a real step towards a future that once I thought it was out of reach,” said Mrs. Maharjan.
“I think there will be equality in space exploration not long,” added Mrs. Degros.