Nepal Enters Space Data Race With Mission to Monitor Himalayas

Nepal has successfully launched its first Earth Observation satellite, “NepSat-1”, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Designed in collaboration with European and Japanese engineers, the satellite will provide real-time data on climate, agriculture, and Himalayan glacier movement.

This launch is a major step in Nepal’s science and technology ambitions. The satellite, though small in scale, will aid in disaster forecasting and resource mapping, especially for mountainous and flood-prone regions.

The Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) hailed the launch as “a new chapter in national development.” Indian scientists from ISRO have also praised the achievement, noting potential for regional satellite data collaboration in South Asia.