Dr. Srimathy Kesan

	Dr. Srimathy Kesan
Born	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Entrepreneur, Space Educator, Social Reformer
Known for	Founder of Space Kidz India; Initiator of KalamSAT and AzaadiSAT missions
Education	Graduate in Travel and Tourism Management; Honorary Doctorate (Education through Travel), Cosmopolitan University, USA
Years active	2010–present
Organization	Space Kidz India (SKI)
Website	[[1](https://www.spacekidzindia.in/) spacekidzindia.in]

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

Early life and education

Born in Chennai, Dr. Srimathy Kesan showed early leadership qualities as a student. She earned her degree in 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 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 Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. Apart from academics, she was a state-level basketball and athletics player, earning medals in shot put, javelin throw, and relay events.

Career

Space Kidz India

In 2010, Dr. Srimathy established 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 NASA.
KALAMSAT-V2, SD SAT, AzaadiSAT, and AzaadiSAT 2.0 – launched aboard 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 NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. Her projects include:

Mission PAYANKE (Seychelles) – A 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 Asia Book of Records, India Book of Records, and Official World Record

Other activities

Member, Planning Board – Mother Teresa Women’s University, Kodaikanal
Advisor – 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 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 breast cancer, female foeticide, AIDS awareness, and youth rehabilitation. She has also led humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and Chennai floods.

Cultural initiatives

Under her leadership, the cultural wing of Space Kidz India represented India at the London 2012 Olympics and has performed internationally in Canada and the United States.