Destination Moon: Mission ShakthiSAT to launch a pioneering spacecraft to the Moon, involving +100 countries for under €6 million

Mission ShakthiSAT, a private initiative led by Space Kidz India, Meridian Space Command and Alpha Impulsion aims to send a 20 kg payload to the Moon for €5.6 million. With the help of 12,000 young girls from 108 developing countries, Mission ShakthiSAT is betting on cutting-edge technologies and global cooperation to make history.

Pushing the frontier of lunar exploration

Once the exclusive domain of major space agencies, the Moon has only recently begun to open up to private initiatives, and very few have succeeded.

Among the innovations developed to meet this challenge is an autophage propulsion system, developed by Alpha Impulsion. A low-cost and radically new technology. With its autophage engine, the structure itself is the engine’s fuel. The spacecraft is gradually consumed like a candle, leaving only the engine and the payload behind by the end of the mission.

Beyond its technical achievements, Mission ShakthiSAT also carries strong educational ambitions. It will engage thousands of young girls from 108 countries. The goal: to ensure this mission is a unique opportunity for training in space-related careers, a field in which women remain significantly underrepresented.

“12,000 girls will build real payloads, gaining hands-on experience that fosters scientific temperament and innovation. Especially for tribal and underserved communities, this mission offers more than knowledge, it offers ownership. I believe giving girls tools, not just theory, will ignite a new generation of changemakers ready to reach the stars.”

- Dr. Srimathy Kesan, Space Kidz India

A tale of international cooperation

Newspace has transformed the industry landscape into a vast, collaborative network of public and private organisations sharing resources, skills, and innovations. Mission ShakthiSAT embodies this spirit, bringing together partners from over 100 developing countries around a unifying educational and scientific goal.

“In today’s context, it is crucial to think at a global level. We’re proud to build with our international partners an ambition meeting the challenges of 21st century space exploration. This is a major milestone for the worldwide reach of our commercial activities. I hope this partnership will, in its own way, help build lasting ties between Europe and India.”

• Marius Celette, CEO Alpha Impulsion

About the Mission

Mission ConOps infographic

Mission ShakthiSAT, a blend of Shakthi (a Sanskrit word which translates to power) and SAT (satellite), is an ambitious space mission designed to send a 20 kg payload to the Moon via an Economical Transfer Vehicle (ETV) developed by Meridian Space Command. The spacecraft consists of both an orbiter (the ETV) and a micro-lander, with the goal of exploring the lunar environment from both orbit and the surface.

The mission will begin with a ride-share launch into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). From there, an autophage space thruster will execute a direct transfer to a highly eccentric lunar orbit with a perilune of 10 km above the south pole. The ETV, carrying scientific and STEM payloads, will map the region for at least two months, after which it will perform an end-of-life deorbit towards the lunar surface. Just before impact, it will deploy a micro-lander aimed at a rough landing in Atlas Crater to collect surface data and transmit it back to Earth.

“The ETV platform is purpose-built for missions with a higher risk appetite, enabling ambitious projects to reach cislunar space at a fraction of the usual cost. By combining novel propulsion with operational discipline, we are making deep space access achievable for emerging space nations, academic teams, and commercial ventures alike. Mission ShakthiSAT is the first step in proving that low cost, high impact lunar missions are within reach.”

- Dr. Sam Richards, Mission Director, Meridian Space Command.

About the consortium

Mission owner: SKI Star Foundation, Space Kidz India

Space Kidz India is an organisation committed to making space exploration accessible and affordable for all. With 19 high-altitude balloon launches, 3 suborbital flights, and 5 satellites successfully placed in Earth orbit, it is proud to be the first organisation in the world to partner with major space agencies like ESA and NASA to send student-built satellites into space. Its mission: to ignite a passion for space among young people and nurture the next generation of industry leaders.

Mission Lead: Meridian Space Command

Meridian Space Command leads the mission’s Economical Transfer Vehicle (ETV) and operations. Headquartered in the UK, Meridian is a specialist in deep space mission success, offering end-to-end services across mission design and execution, enabling technologies, and embedded in-house mission education. The organisation works globally with emerging space nations, commercial startups, and national agencies to build sovereign and in-house mission capabilities.

Propulsion Provider: Alpha Impulsion

Based in France and Italy, Alpha Impulsion is a young startup developing a breakthrough technology: the autophage rocket engine, an innovation with applications in satellite propulsion, launch vehicles, and defense. Mission ShakthiSAT marks a major milestone for Opal, the autophage satellite propulsion system developed by the company.

Space Park Leicester:

Space Park Leicester is one of the UK’s premier space research and innovation hubs, providing Mission ShakthiSAT with mission integration and Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) support. The facility enables mission design, hardware integration, cleanroom assembly, and leverages deep academic and commercial partnerships.

CAVU Aerospace:

CAVU Aerospace delivers critical subsystems for the mission, including avionics, compute units, solar arrays, power conditioning and distribution units (PCDU), and thermal control systems. Their low-cost, flight-proven advanced hardware accelerates development while maintaining high mission assurance.

Press contact

William LIGNEAU
william.ligneau@alpha-impulsion.com
+336 81 57 56 03