Born in a remote village of Khotang, Mohan Tamang’s journey into space technology was not born out of privilege or predetermined paths. He grew up in a household where no one had pursued a career in science or engineering. With a father working in the Gulf, a homemaker mother, and a younger brother, Tamang was the first in his family to receive significant educational exposure.

“From as early as grade three or four, I was drawn to creativity, innovation, and making an impact,” he says. Art was an early interest, but it was his school, Joseph High School’s unique approach to education—heavily reliant on motivation and guest lectures, that shaped his mentality.

He recalls a saying from his school’s vice principal that stood out to him, “Your birth is not a coincidence, but a necessity—prove it.” That single sentence became a driving force in his ambition to make a mark.

By the time he reached grade ten, he was captivated by space technology. He participated in a national rocketry competition, securing a top position, which led him to represent Nepal at an international event in Japan. In November 2014, while he was in Japan, the country launched the Hayabusa II, an asteroid mining mission.

Witnessing this first-hand made him realise the stark difference in technological priorities between a developed country like Japan and Nepal. This experience fueled his commitment to advocate for space technology in Nepal.

Unlike most professionals in the field, Tamang did not acquire his engineering knowledge through formal training. His understanding of computer science and engineering was largely self-taught. Reading about Lisa Tzwu-Fang Su, a prominent computer scientist, helped shape his perspective. “I used to wonder why we were learning calculus and statistics,” he says. “Only when I started designing rockets did I realise their relevance.”

High school at Liverpool International College gave him the space to experiment. “I initiated a satellite project with a team of six students, developing a Can-Satellite—an environmental satellite prototype capable of collecting data and transmitting it to a ground station.”

The project took him to international competitions in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore. He and his team also participated in a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) competition, gaining recognition for their work.

However, after grade 12, he struggled to find the right environment to continue his work. “I met many people and organisations, but I couldn’t find the energy or passion I was looking for,” he says.

When Tamang founded Mach24 Orbitals, his goal was to tackle a simple yet critical issue—space access is expensive. “Everyone has seen SpaceX launches,” he says. “But why doesn’t Nepal have its space infrastructure?” Looking for answers, he realised that cost was the biggest barrier for countries like Nepal.

“There are 44 other landlocked countries in the world. If you look at the Asian market, China, Japan, India, and Korea have made advances in space technology. But space remains inaccessible for the rest of us,” he explains. The challenge was developing low-cost solutions to make satellite launches viable for Nepal and similar countries.

He acknowledges that the broader global space race focuses on Mars exploration and moon landings, but Nepal, with its limited resources, needed a different approach. “We have to start small before we can dream big.”

Tamang’s work is built on a long-term vision. His immediate goal is to create awareness and demonstrate that Nepal can develop its own space industry. To do so, he has led multiple test launches, overseeing 15 rocket launches to 10 km altitude during his tenure at the National Innovation Center.

A key milestone in his life came on March 20, 2021, when he led the development and launch of Nepal’s first sounding rocket, Garuda, in collaboration with the Nepal Army and the National Innovation Center. The launch, which took place in Dharapani, Dhanusha, was a historic moment for Nepal. Later, it won the Nancy Squires Award at the Spaceport America Cup 2021, making Nepal’s first-ever appearance at a global rocketry competition.

Within five to six years, he aims to launch a 500 kg satellite into low Earth orbit. In the long run, he sees Nepal becoming part of the global space ecosystem by developing cost-effective satellite solutions. “Right now, Nepal lacks basic disaster management tools. We also face border security issues. A satellite could change that,” he says.

Attempting to build a rocket company in Nepal has come with significant challenges. Tamang has faced scepticism from government agencies, investors, and even the general public. Despite interest from foreign investors, Nepal’s regulatory constraints have made it difficult to secure funding. “The government has not actively supported us,” he says. “We need policies that facilitate space research.”

His company, Mach24 Orbitals, has received incubation support from the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), but the launch of rockets remains a logistical challenge in Nepal. “There are no designated sites for testing in Kathmandu Valley,” he says. “Even when we need to test an engine, there are noise and safety concerns.”

Before founding Mach24 Orbitals, Tamang worked extensively on student-led initiatives to promote space education. As President of SEDS-Nepal, he developed STEM programmes that reached over 10,000 students across Nepal, from rural community schools to institutions like Budhanilkantha School. His goal was to equip students with problem-solving and innovation skills.

In 2020, he officially registered SEDS-Nepal as a nonprofit organisation. Under his leadership, the organisation grew to over 2,000 members across multiple universities. He initiated rocket-building projects and high-altitude balloon research, helping young Nepali students engage with space technology.

One memorable moment for him occurred when engineering students from remote regions came to Kathmandu and shared their admiration for his work. “They told me they had wanted to do something similar but didn’t know how to start. Seeing what we had built gave them hope,” he recalls. “Even though some of our early projects failed, the fact that it inspired others made it worthwhile.”

After the first ‘Garuda’ launch failed, Tamang joined Mahabir Pun’s National Innovation Center as Project Lead for Space Systems. Over three years, he led teams that launched 15 rockets to 10 km in collaboration with organisations like the Nepal Army and the University of Tokyo.

Now, as the head of Mach24 Orbitals, he has built a core team of 15 engineers, including graduates from top institutions like IIT India and a few interns. His team’s next major milestone is a 100 km suborbital rocket launch by the end of 2025, with a full space launch planned for 2026.

At the same time, Mach24 Orbitals is working with NAST on Nepal’s first Hybrid-liquid engine, primarily focusing on hybrid propulsion technology using liquid oxygen and candle wax. “It’s a cost-effective alternative that could be game-changing for Nepal,” he says.

For young entrepreneurs in Nepal, Tamang’s advice is simple: “Find the right team and have perseverance. If you can dream it, you can make it happen.”

He emphasises that failure is part of the process. His mantra—fail fast, learn fast, redo; has helped him stay resilient. Despite the challenges, Tamang is optimistic about the future.

He believes, “Nepal can develop its own aerospace sector, but the journey will require not just technological breakthroughs, but systemic changes in policy and investment culture. “The world is shifting,” he says. “We need to decide whether to be left behind or take the leap forward.”