Laura María Alfaro, a student at La Floresta school in Santa Tecla, has been selected as El Salvador’s representative for the global ShakthiSAT mission, an initiative led by Space Kidz India. Out of 30 local participants trained in STEM, aerospace, and scientific communication, Laura won the national competition with her community outreach project “Más allá del vuelo” (Beyond Flight). As part of this historic project, she will join 107 other young women from around the world—including peers from Panama, Colombia, and Spain—to assemble a CubeSat satellite destined for lunar orbit.
The program aims to bridge the gender gap in space exploration, an industry where women currently represent only 11% of all astronauts. Led by Space Kidz India founder Srimathy Kesan, the initiative provides hands-on engineering experience while promoting international collaboration. Before earning her spot, Laura participated in rigorous training hosted at the Key Institute, alongside technical visits to Aeroman and the Micro-Macro Observatory at Don Bosco University, inspiring over 500 local students through community STEM interventions.
Despite earning her place on this international stage, Laura and Space Kidz India’s local ambassador, Sonia Castro, face a race against time. While the hosting organization covers accommodation and meals at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida from August 23 to 31, the team must independently raise $4,000 to cover round-trip airfare by August 2. Local partner Key Institute has assisted with initial transport costs, but additional funding is urgently needed to secure their travel.
For organizers and family members alike, the trip represents a life-changing milestone for both the young student and her country’s presence in global science. “Laura is beyond excited, and that’s why I am doing everything possible, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” explains Castro, a professional engineer leading the local chapter. “Not everyone gets the chance to build a satellite from scratch and launch it into space.”
If funding goals are met, Laura will travel to India next month to assemble the device, which is scheduled for launch on October 11, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child. Organizations and individuals wishing to support the campaign can reach the local organizers through their official portal at mission-shakthisat-elsalvador.netlify.app or via email at alescc1056@gmail.com.