Cassie Ralamboarivelo has been selected from twelve thousand young women from one hundred eight countries to participate in the ShakthiSAT mission in India. Her selection came after completing several training stages alongside her regular schooling.
Cassie Ralamboarivelo, 16, currently represents Madagascar in India. She was chosen to participate in ShakthiSAT, running from August 23-31 in New Delhi with participants from 108 countries. Her selection followed multiple stages, including a national competition, around twenty training modules, and over 500 courses completed in less than two years—all while maintaining her studies.
"Her school schedule was demanding, so ShakthiSAT training had to be gradual. Before selection, she spent more time on coursework, especially during holidays. She even stayed up late studying online," her father, Hery Nirina Razafindralambo, explains.
The young woman balanced both through intense study periods. "Her strength is doing things thoroughly. She doesn't constantly revise, but when she commits, she really studies," her father notes. Cassie alternates between intense work and complete rest.
Upon arriving in India, Cassie felt mixed emotions. "I felt a bit lost, scared, stressed and shy at first," she admits. Curiosity soon took over: "I'm also enthusiastic about discovering new things and meeting new people."
Local friendships helped build her confidence. "I met friends who are nice and very understanding," she says. The mission includes meetings with Indian officials, European and Australian parliamentarians, and African ministers. Activities run throughout the day, sometimes into evening.
ShakthiSAT is an international initiative introducing young women to space science and satellite development through concrete projects. Cassie will familiarize herself with various stages of satellite design and operation, including designing scientific experiments for satellite deployment.