Skyroot launches Kalpana Fellowship for women engineers in space sector

Inspired by the legacy of astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the fellowship offers an all-encompassing programme featuring monthly stipend, experiential learning, guidance from seasoned professionals, access to world-class infrastructure and innovative technologies at Skyroot Aerospace.

Hyderabad: India's leading space technology company, Hyderabad based Skyroot Aerospace, on Tuesday announced the launch of the Kalpana Fellowship, marking a significant milestone as India's first-of-its-kind fellowship program dedicated exclusively to women in the space sector.

The Kalpana Fellowship is designed to inspire, encourage, and empower the next generation of female engineers to soar to new heights in the space industry.

Inspired by the legacy of astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the fellowship offers a unique, all-encompassing program featuring monthly stipend, experiential learning, guidance from seasoned professionals, access to world-class infrastructure and innovative technologies at Skyroot Aerospace.

The programme provides a monthly allowance for a year to successful candidates, with eligibility open to final year students and recent graduates in relevant engineering disciplines to apply. The 2024 fellowship registration window is presently open.

“We need more women in STEM and in the space sector, and women can bring in more innovation, creativity and impact. Therefore, we conceived the Kalpana Fellowship to provide exciting opportunities for women engineers to work on cutting-edge space projects, receive mentorship from top experts, and gain access to world-class infrastructure at Skyroot,” said Skyroot, Co-Founder and CEO Pawan Chandana.

Exceptional candidates who complete the one-year fellowship will have the opportunity to transition into full-time roles at Skyroot Aerospace.

Skyroot is home to a vibrant team of 300 space professionals dedicated to developing cutting-edge space launch vehicles and has the distinction of launching India’s first privately developed rocket into space. 

The candidate selection is based on their performance in the three-stage selection process, designed to identify and assess the mental and academic competencies essential for a Kalpana Fellow to achieve the fellowship's envisioned goals.