Uzbek girls launch nanosatellites into stratosphere

Over 150 girl participants from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have launched three ultramodern nanosatellites into the stratosphere as a part of the UniSat educational program by UNICEF.

The nanosatellites were created by the girls as part of a 10-day marathon at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. This program, aimed at increasing the interest of girls in cosmonautics, is carried out with the support of UNICEF country offices in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The participants were selected from 2,000 girls who had previously completed the UniSat online course.

They mastered in design, programming and assembly of spacecraft and were able to visit the Center for Space Technologies and Remote Sensing of the Earth. The girls immediately put their theoretical knowledge into practice during classes. Under the guidance of mentors, young scientists designed nanosatellite hulls using 3D modelling and printed them on a 3D printer.

There is a significant gap between boys and girls in the fields of computer literacy, technical education and career in Uzbekistan, and in other countries of the world. The UniSat educational program will help to reduce this gap, to interest and train girls skills in the field of science and technology" "UniSat will help to attract the public’s attention to the gender issue in technological fields among the youth of Uzbekistan," said Munir Mammadzade, head of the UNICEF representative office in Uzbekistan.

Every year more than 10 thousand girls join this initiative and more and more girls gain confidence in the development of a scientific career.

UniSat is an educational program of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Al-Farabi Kazakh National University). The aim of the UniSat program is to develop the knowledge and competencies of girls in the field of nanosatellite development, as well as to improve skills such as teamwork, public speaking, time management and creativity. The UniSat program is implemented with the support of the Dubai Cares International Educational Foundation, the Clé de Peau Beauté brand and philanthropist Ms Nazanin Alakia.