Profile

My name is Vinita Marwaha Madill and I’m a space engineer working at Mission Control in Ottawa, Canada. I lead astronaut health and robotic lunar exploration projects.

I was previously based at the European Space Agency (ESA) (via Terma B.V.) as a Space Operations Engineer focused on future human spaceflight operations. Prior to this I worked at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) to guide astronauts through experiments onboard the International Space Station (ISS). At ESA’s European Astronaut Centre, I helped design the SkinSuit and conducted a study on future lunar spacesuit design, operations and EVA training.

I studied Mathematics and Physics with Astrophysics at King’s College London followed by the International Space University’s (ISU) Space Studies Program in Barcelona, Spain. I went on to gain master’s degrees in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University and in Space Management from the International Space University (ISU).

I’m an advocate for STEM outreach, founding the platform Rocket Women that aims to inspire young women to study STEM. Based in Canada, I was fortunate to take part in an intimate round table discussion with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, highlighting the importance of education and feature in an Instagram campaign of the same cause. Through Rocket Women, I work closely with the Royal Academy of Engineering, supporting school teachers and students to learn about space research and careers.

My favourite TV shows of all time are Stargate SG-1 / Stargate Atlantis. Watching Samantha Carter on TV every week showed me that studying astrophysics and being a successful scientist & engineer was possible as a woman. Fictional role models can be as influential as those in real-life! I also like the Arrow-universe TV shows: Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and the new Star Trek Discovery.

I lead astronaut health projects and lunar exploration projects at Mission Control in Ottawa, Canada.

Previously, as a Space Operations Engineer at the European Space Agency (ESA) (through TERMA B.V.) I worked on future human spaceflight missions, including the new ISS robotic arm: the European Robotic Arm. I’m also the founder of a website called Rocket Women, which inspires young women to consider a career in STEM. Prior to becoming a consultant, I worked as an ISS Operations Engineer at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and at the European Space Agency (ESA) focusing on spacesuit design & EVA (spacewalk) training.

My typical day as a project manager at Mission Control involves meetings with international companies and space agencies, including Axiom Research Labs in Bangalore, India on a joint project that I’m leading called Mission Control Intelligence. Through this project we’re demonstrating AI-powered levels of autonomy on a micro-rover (smaller rover) ahead of commercial missions to the Moon. We’ve created a suite of cutting-edge technologies that will enable lunar mission operators to make key decisions in science and navigation operations faster and with more confidence, designed to meet the growing demand for AI-powered robotic missions. These technologies can be integrated and used for future missions including a potential Canadian micro-rover mission to the lunar surface. I also lead space health and astronaut support systems projects which is really exciting!

As an Operations Engineer, I worked on developing the operations for the European Robotic Arm (ERA), a new robotic arm now on the International Space Station. This included preparing a smaller version of Mission Control at ESA’s technology centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands, and astronaut training. My typical day could have varied from developing astronaut/cosmonaut (Russian astronaut) spacewalk (or EVA) training with colleagues in Russia, to creating and testing missions for the astronauts to control the robotic arm at ESA. Now that the robotic arm has been launched and attached to the ISS, Operations Engineers work on-console at ESTEC and from Mission Control in Moscow on robotic arm operations and supporting the spacewalks conducted by the astronauts and cosmonauts onboard the ISS.

Having wanted to work in the space industry since I was young, working at the European Space Agency (through TERMA B.V.) and now at Mission Control is a dream come true. The environment at ESA is extremely international and I enjoy being able to work with colleagues from all around the world to design future human spaceflight projects and lunar exploration projects.

Along with travelling to schools myself, a series of interviews with women working in the UK space industry could be carried out, recorded on video or audio, along with a series of publications and leaflets to be distributed to schools. These real life engineers and I would visit the schools to provide talks regarding their career, providing tangible examples to young girls alongside necessary interaction with women in the space industry. This would bring awareness of the work carried out by UK scientists, engineers and others in STEM to young girls. The leaflets can be published through digital media channels and made available as educational resources for both teachers and students.

Interactions with these role models will provide students with examples to look up to when they’re making the most critical decisions in their education. Helping to improve gender diversity in the UK space industry in particular will not only mitigate the UK talent shortage of women in technical roles, but ensure that there will be role models for future generations to look up to and aim towards.