Celebrating Student Achievement: Bhutanese Teen Helps Build Satellite

The Fogarty Foundation is proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of students participating in the BinarX outreach program, including Bhutanese student Pema Wangmo Subba, whose inspiring story was recently featured in Bhutan’s national newspaper, Kuensel.

Pema’s journey into space science began during her studies in Australia, where she engaged with BinarX, an outreach initiative led by Curtin University’s Space Science and Technology Centre. Through the program, Pema became part of a team helping to build a real satellite; an extraordinary hands-on experience that reflects the bold educational vision behind BinarX. While the article mentions a satellite launch date for later this year, the launch is currently slated for late 2026, with final details still being confirmed.

The BinarX program is designed to ignite curiosity, foster confidence, and build capability in young people through meaningful engagement with space science and STEM innovation. It’s not just about developing the next generation of engineers, though we certainly hope many will pursue that path - but about encouraging all young people, regardless of background, to explore new possibilities and challenge their own expectations of what they can achieve.

This program is made possible thanks to strong partnerships, including the Fogarty Foundation’s support to expand its reach in Western Australia. Through BinarX, students from diverse communities are given access to tools, mentors and real-world projects that place high-tech learning directly in their hands.

We are continually inspired by stories like Pema’s; students stepping beyond their comfort zones, engaging with complex ideas, and finding their place in a field they may never have imagined for themselves. Just as it has been true of our work in past programs, we’re seeing those same sparks of self-belief and exploration flourish through BinarX.

At the Fogarty Foundation, we are proud to support initiatives that don’t just teach STEM, they humanise it, expand access to it, and help young people see where they fit in it. Our congratulations to Pema and to the entire BinarX team for continuing to reach new heights - literally and figuratively.