On December 10, a historic moment for Nepal unfolded: a nanosatellite built by Chepang students from Nepal was launched from China. The satellite, named “Slippers to Sat,” has already reached space. The students of the community learned this skill under the guidance of Dr Abhas Maske and engineers from the Nepal Space Foundation. They received training, understood the technology, and helped assemble the components themselves.
The Chepang are a marginalised Indigenous community in Nepal. They traditionally live a semi-nomadic life in the districts of Chitwan, Makwanpur, Dhading, and Gorkha. Their involvement is a major transition for the nation. For decades, they have lived in difficult conditions, including steep settlements, limited food, poor access to services, and very low incomes. Even today, many Chepang families live below the poverty line. But in recent years, more children from the community have started attending school and learning new skills.