BRAVO, ISKRA! A high school student from Belgrade is one of 108 girls who will build and launch a satellite for lunar research!

Her name is as if created for what she has achieved. Iskra Ilic, a student of the Mathematical Grammar School in Belgrade, has just become part of something that does not happen every day — neither in Serbia, nor in the world.

By winning a competition within the global project ShaktiSAT, Iskra became the official representative of Serbia who will travel to India and join an international team of girls who will work together on the creation of a mini-satellite. But to understand how big this actually is, we must tell the story from the beginning.

What is ShaktiSAT?

ShaktiSAT is the first mission in the world in which exclusively girls work on advanced mapping of the Moon’s surface and the identification of resources on it. More than 12,000 girls from over 108 countries underwent training in their own countries, and one from each country was selected to participate in the training led by director Dr. Srimathi Kesan. The goal is to inspire and empower the next generation of women in STEM fields.

Behind the project stands the Indian startup Space Kids India, known for pioneering activities in the design, production, and launch of satellites. This is an organization that is no stranger when it comes to satellites — it cooperates directly with the Indian space agency ISRO and has years of experience working with young scientists. The ShaktiSAT project brings together 108 girls aged 14 to 18 from 108 countries. So — one country, one girl, one voice. And that voice from Serbia will be Iskra.

How did Serbia even reach space?

The path to India was not short. Since August 2024, Serbia has officially been a participant in this international project, the goal of which is the empowerment of girls worldwide in the field of space research and space technologies. Since January 2025, 108 girls from Serbia, with the support of volunteers, have undergone extremely demanding online training and a series of STEM workshops.

Imagine that: 108 girls from all over Serbia, for months mastering material that is usually not taught in schools — from the principles of orbital mechanics to the construction of small satellites. At the end of that long and demanding process, only one remains.

How was she chosen?

Iskra Ilic, a student of the Mathematical Grammar School, triumphed at the final competition of the ShaktiSAT project held at the Science Club of the Center for the Promotion of Science. The final selection was open, public, and based exclusively on knowledge and effort — no luck, no connections, no shortcuts. Just her and what she knows.

“This was really interesting to me. I have never done anything like this before. I plan to study aerospace engineering, partly because I participated in this program. I am very much looking forward to participating in the satellite launch. This is truly a unique opportunity and I am glad to have the chance to be a part of it,” said Iskra.

Why is this important?

Because it is not just Iskra’s victory — it is a victory for every girl who ever thought that physics, mathematics, and space “are not for her.” Iskra attends the Mathematical Grammar School, and soon in India, side by side with peers from all over the world, she will work on a satellite that will map the surface of the Moon.

Mission director Dr. Srimathi Kesan announced the continuation of cooperation, which means that this is not the end — for Iskra, but also for Serbia in the world of space research.