Nineteen-year-old Kaitlyn Sahatoo will represent Trinidad and Tobago in Space Kidz India’s Mission ShakthiSAT, a global, all-girls space and satellite technology programme involving participants from more than 100 countries.
According to a Trinidad and Tobago Guardian article, the former Parvati Girls’ Hindu College student travelled to India on Tuesday for the 10-day programme, where she will work alongside scientists and other delegates to build a satellite that will eventually be launched into orbit.
The Gasparillo resident, now a medical student at The University of the West Indies, developed an interest in space from childhood and previously led her school’s astronomy club, said the Guardian.
She discovered ShakthiSAT at a school career fair and completed 21 online modules covering subjects including mathematics, physics and satellite design. The self-paced programme was completed outside school hours, with records showing Sahatoo dedicated more than 500 hours to her studies.
The article said that only three participants met the required completion threshold and advanced to interviews, where they were assessed on leadership, teamwork, resilience, ethics, global citizenship, personal values and their passion for space.
Sahatoo hopes to eventually combine her medical studies with space technology, particularly in telemedicine, disease surveillance and remote healthcare.
Donna Scoon-Moses, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador for the mission, said the opportunity could help strengthen the country and the wider Caribbean’s presence in the growing space sector.
ANSA McAL contributed $21,500 toward Sahatoo’s airfare and programme-related costs.
