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2025-11-11T06:37:22Z

Admin: Created page with "{{SHORTDESC:Indian space entrepreneur, educator, and social reformer}} {{#seo: |title=Dr. Srimathy Kesan |title_mode=append |keywords=Dr. Srimathy Kesan, Space Kidz India, Indian women in STEM, space entrepreneur, AzaadiSAT, KalamSat, Indian space educator, NASA, ISRO, Dr. Srimathy Kesan biography, Dr. Srimathy Kesan Timespedia |description=Dr. Srimathy Kesan is an Indian entrepreneur, educator, and space innovator best known as the founder of Space Kidz India. Her pione..."

2025-11-11T06:32:12Z

Created page with "{{SHORTDESC:Indian space entrepreneur, educator, and social reformer}} {{#seo: |title=Dr. Srimathy Kesan |title_mode=append |keywords=Dr. Srimathy Kesan, Space Kidz India, Indian women in STEM, space entrepreneur, AzaadiSAT, KalamSat, Indian space educator, NASA, ISRO, Dr. Srimathy Kesan biography, Dr. Srimathy Kesan Timespedia |description=Dr. Srimathy Kesan is an Indian entrepreneur, educator, and space innovator best known as the founder of Space Kidz India. Her pione..."

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{{SHORTDESC:Indian space entrepreneur, educator, and social reformer}}
{{#seo:
|title=Dr. Srimathy Kesan
|title_mode=append
|keywords=Dr. Srimathy Kesan, Space Kidz India, Indian women in STEM, space entrepreneur, AzaadiSAT, KalamSat, Indian space educator, NASA, ISRO, Dr. Srimathy Kesan biography, Dr. Srimathy Kesan Timespedia
|description=Dr. Srimathy Kesan is an Indian entrepreneur, educator, and space innovator best known as the founder of Space Kidz India. Her pioneering work in space education has empowered young students to design and launch satellites with ISRO and NASA.
|image=Dr. Srimathy Kesan.jpg
|image_alt=Dr. Srimathy Kesan
}}{| class="infobox" style="width: 22em; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid #aaa; float: right; margin-left: 1em;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: larger; padding: 5px 0;" |'''Dr. Srimathy Kesan''' {{GoldenTick}}
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 0; background-color: #f9f9f9;" |[[File:Dr. Srimathy Kesan.jpg|alt=Dr. Srimathy Kesan |frameless]]
|-
| style="width: 30%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |'''Born'''
| style="width: 70%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |[[wikipedia:Chennai|Chennai]], [[wikipedia:Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]], [[wikipedia:India|India]]
|-
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |'''Nationality'''
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |[[wikipedia:India|Indian]]
|-
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |'''Occupation'''
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |[[wikipedia:Entrepreneur|Entrepreneur]], [[wikipedia:Educator|Space Educator]], [[wikipedia:Social Activist|Social Reformer]]
|-
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |'''Known for'''
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |Founder of [[wikipedia:Space Kidz India|Space Kidz India]]; Initiator of [[wikipedia:KalamSAT|KalamSAT]] and [[wikipedia:AzaadiSAT|AzaadiSAT]] missions
|-
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |'''Education'''
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |Graduate in Travel and Tourism Management; Honorary Doctorate (Education through Travel), Cosmopolitan University, USA
|-
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |'''Years active'''
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |2010–present
|-
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |'''Organization'''
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |[[wikipedia:Space Kidz India|Space Kidz India (SKI)]]
|-
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |'''Website'''
| style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px;" |[[https://www.spacekidzindia.in/](https://www.spacekidzindia.in/) spacekidzindia.in]
|}

'''Dr. Srimathy Kesan''' is an [[wikipedia:India|Indian]] [[wikipedia:Entrepreneur|entrepreneur]] and [[wikipedia:Educator|educator]] recognized for her leadership in the field of [[wikipedia:Aerospace|aerospace education]]. She is the founder and CEO of [[wikipedia:Space Kidz India|Space Kidz India (SKI)]], an organization that empowers students to design, build, and launch [[wikipedia:Small satellite|small satellites]] in collaboration with [[wikipedia:ISRO|ISRO]] and [[wikipedia:NASA|NASA]]. Through her initiatives, she has become a prominent advocate for [[wikipedia:Women in STEM fields|women in STEM]] and youth-driven innovation in India’s space ecosystem.

== Early life and education ==
Born in [[wikipedia:Chennai|Chennai]], Dr. Srimathy Kesan showed early leadership qualities as a student. She earned her degree in [[wikipedia:Travel and Tourism Management|Travel and Tourism Management]] and later received an Honorary Doctorate in “Education through Travel” from Cosmopolitan University, USA.
During her college years, she excelled in the [[wikipedia:National Cadet Corps (India)|National Cadet Corps (NCC)]], becoming the first female cadet to command her battalion parade. She was named “Best Cadet” in 1992 and represented the Andhra Pradesh Contingent at the [[wikipedia:Republic Day (India)|Republic Day]] celebrations in New Delhi.
Apart from academics, she was a state-level [[wikipedia:Basketball|basketball]] and [[wikipedia:Athletics|athletics]] player, earning medals in [[wikipedia:Shot put|shot put]], [[wikipedia:Javelin throw|javelin throw]], and relay events.

== Career ==
=== Space Kidz India ===
In 2010, Dr. Srimathy established [[wikipedia:Space Kidz India|Space Kidz India]] with the goal of nurturing scientific curiosity and global exposure among young Indians. Under her leadership, SKI has executed multiple space missions, including:

* '''KALAMSAT''' – The world’s smallest satellite, launched by [[wikipedia:NASA|NASA]].
* '''KALAMSAT-V2''', '''SD SAT''', '''AzaadiSAT''', and '''AzaadiSAT 2.0''' – launched aboard [[wikipedia:ISRO|ISRO]] missions.
* '''NSLV (Near Space Launch Vehicle)''' – A student rocket initiative developed in partnership with the Government of Rajasthan.

So far, Space Kidz India has successfully completed more than 25 student-led missions, covering balloon satellites, suborbital flights, and orbital satellites.

=== International collaboration and advocacy ===
Dr. Srimathy represents India globally as a goodwill ambassador to [[wikipedia:NASA|NASA]], the [[wikipedia:European Space Agency|European Space Agency (ESA)]], and Russia’s [[wikipedia:Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre|Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre]].
Her projects include:

* '''Mission PAYANKE''' (Seychelles) – A [[wikipedia:UNESCO|UNESCO]]-supported space education initiative.
* '''Friendship Satellite''' – An Indo–Russian student collaboration celebrating international unity through science.
* '''NSLV-6 Balloon Mission''' – Conducted in partnership with NASA, engaging children aged 10–15 in payload design.

=== Zero gravity experience ===
In a milestone achievement, she became the first Indian woman to experience a zero-gravity flight, sharing the cabin with Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke and aerospace engineer Poppy Northcutt.

== Awards and recognition ==
Dr. Srimathy Kesan has received numerous honors for her contributions to space education and women empowerment.

=== National awards ===

* Devi Award – The New Indian Express (2024)
* Kalvi Tharagai Award – Vikatan (2022)
* Abdul Kalam Award for Science and Technology
* Pride of India – CNBC & 1000 Petals Foundation (2016)
* Nari Shakti Award – Seemapuria Times (2014)
* Cavinkare Chinnikrishnan Innovation Award (2013)
* Chennai Super Mom – The Hindu (2009)

=== International awards ===

* Women Leaders in Electronics Award – UK House of Lords (2025)
* Globant Global Award for Women in Tech (2023)
* Women Icon Award – Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2017)
* Legendary Lioness Lifetime Achievement Award – VR Oneness Foundation (2018)
* Global Women in Leadership – Brand India Global Vision

=== Social and institutional recognition ===

* Best Social Entrepreneur – FICCI FLO
* Social Entrepreneur of the Year – Rotary Club Port City (2015)
* Leading Women Entrepreneur – II Global (2014)
* Woman of the Year in Science & Technology – WEDO
* Featured in [[wikipedia:Asia Book of Records|Asia Book of Records]], [[wikipedia:India Book of Records|India Book of Records]], and Official World Record

== Other activities ==

* Member, Planning Board – [[wikipedia:Mother Teresa Women's University|Mother Teresa Women’s University]], Kodaikanal
* Advisor – [[wikipedia:AMET University|AMET University]]
* Author of ''First Kids on the Moon'', India’s pioneering children’s space fiction
* Presented a paper on Nano Satellite Technology at the [[wikipedia:University of Oxford|University of Oxford]]

== Social impact ==
Beyond aerospace, Dr. Srimathy Kesan advocates for social awareness through short films and community initiatives. Her work addresses issues such as [[wikipedia:Breast cancer awareness|breast cancer]], [[wikipedia:Female foeticide in India|female foeticide]], AIDS awareness, and youth rehabilitation. She has also led humanitarian efforts during the [[wikipedia:COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]] and Chennai floods.

== Cultural initiatives ==
Under her leadership, the cultural wing of Space Kidz India represented India at the [[wikipedia:2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012 Olympics]] and has performed internationally in [[wikipedia:Canada|Canada]] and the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]].

== See also ==

* [[wikipedia:Space Kidz India|Space Kidz India]]
* [[wikipedia:KalamSAT|KalamSAT]]
* [[wikipedia:AzaadiSAT|AzaadiSAT]]
* [[wikipedia:ISRO|Indian Space Research Organisation]]
* [[wikipedia:Women in STEM fields|Women in STEM]]

[[Category:Indian educators]]
[[Category:Indian women scientists]]
[[Category:Indian social activists]]
[[Category:Indian aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:Women in STEM]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Chennai]]

Dr. Srimathy Kesan - Revision history

Admin at 06:37, 11 November 2025