Kathmandu, Jan. 10: : Nepal is set to make history in space technology with the launch of MUNAL, a fully indigenous, student-built satellite, aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) PSLV-C62 rocket on January 12, 2026.

The satellite is scheduled to launch at 10:17 AM IST (10:32 AM NST) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, as a rideshare payload on ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. It will be placed into Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of around 800 kilometers.

MUNAL’s primary mission includes monitoring vegetation using dual RGB and Near-Infrared cameras, testing a locally developed Satellite System-on-Chip (SSoC), and demonstrating onboard artificial intelligence for in-orbit image processing to improve data transmission efficiency. Satellite operations and data reception will be conducted from the NAST Ground Station in Khumaltar.

The launch has been facilitated through grant assistance from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, implemented via NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), following agreements strengthened during the 2024 India–Nepal Joint Commission meeting co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Nepal’s then Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud.

NAST Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba said the mission symbolizes Nepal’s growing role in space science. NAST Secretary Dr. Rabindra Prasad Dhakal added that the project reflects the institution’s commitment to nurturing young talent and building a future space ecosystem involving academia, industry and startups.

APN Director Dr. Abhas Maskey described MUNAL as a foundational step toward a sustainable national space program, while Er. Hari Ram Shrestha, Chief of NAST’s Space Research Program, said student-led research will remain central to Nepal’s space ambitions.

The MUNAL mission marks Nepal’s second major entry into space technology and is being viewed as a landmark achievement in empowering youth, advancing scientific innovation and strengthening regional cooperation in space.