Experience

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  Mission Control Space Services

  • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  • Project Manager

    • Mar 2020 - Present
    • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    - Managing lunar exploration focused projects with international partners and globally distributed teams. Leading projects including Mission Control Intelligence (MCI) in partnership with Axiom Research Labs (ARL) in India, enhancing the autonomy of commercial space robotics. MCI is designed to meet the growing demand for AI-powered robotic missions to improve safety and productivity, whilst enabling the future of low-cost autonomous space missions. - Conducting Business Development activities, particularly covering European specific engagement opportunities & partnerships.- Leading space health initiatives. Projects include an adaptation of Mission Control Software for space health applications in partnership with Simon Fraser University Aerospace Physiology Lab.- Leading educational outreach projects supported by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), including Commanding a Rover Learning Experience (CARLE) and Youth STEM (Lunar Gateway Robotics Operations).

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  Rocket Women

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Founder

    • Jul 2012 - Present
    • London, United Kingdom

    - A global platform to inspire women and minorities through providing advice on working in the space and technology industries (namely STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths).- Interviewing trailblazing diverse women from the space industry, technology and aerospace. Including astronauts, government policy makers, scientists and engineers.- Created a Rocket Women scholarship programme for women in STEM, primarily funded through Rocket Women apparel proceeds.- Contributing to STEM & space outreach events throughout the UK & Europe and North America with the aim to inspire the next generation to choose a career in STEM- 2023: Recipient of the King's Distinguished Alumni STEM award in 2023 for driving impact and transformation in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.- 2023: Contributed to the design of Morgan Stanley’s conceptual model spacesuit, The Access I, designed and worn by Vinita. Designed to be inherently inclusive compared to spacesuits of the past which have historically not fit smaller astronauts that tend to be women. Supported the development of and appeared in a documentary film with CNN Courageous Studios highlighting the importance of inclusive design. Participated in an incredible large-scale public outreach event for the Creating Space project with Morgan Stanley in Times Square, NYC.- 2020-2021: Part of the award-winning SEE MONSTER project, participating in Unboxed, led by New Substance.- 2020: Space Puzzles for Future Astronauts - educational activity book developed as expert in collaboration with publisher Curved House Kids- 2019: Nominated to attend the Women of the Year awards in London, UK (www.womenoftheyear.co.uk).- Rocket Women featured by Stylist Magazine in a feature focused on space design and exploration.- Vinita, representing Rocket Women, named in the Inclusive Boards list of 100 Most Influential Women Leaders in Engineering UK & Europe 2019 in the Financial Times

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  Self-Employed Consultant

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Space Engineering & STEM Outreach Speaker / Consultant

    • Jul 2012 - Present
    • London, United Kingdom

    - Invited to take part in an intimate round table discussion with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and Instagram COO Marne Levine to discuss the importance of education and inspiring the next generation.- Featured on the Prime Minister of Canada's Instagram account discussing the importance of education (2016).- Ambassador & Spokesperson for Royal Academy of Engineering's This is Engineering campaign.- Invited speaker at Norwich Science Festival 2019 panel discussion focused on the Future of Human Spaceflight- Invited speaker at King's College London (UK) Ada Lovelace Day 2019 event- Invited speaker at Empowering Women With Tech (Leeds, UK) International Women's Day 2019 Event- Primary Science Curriculum Course development with STEM Learning UK: Teaching Primary Science: Humans In Space - Invited speaker at New Scientist Live 2017. Talk title - Dressing For The Moon: How To Design a Spacesuit- Invited speaker at the Bluedot Festival 2017 (2017.discoverthebluedot.com). Talk title - How To Be A Rocket Woman.- Invited keynote speaker at the Norwich Science Festival 2017 and panelist discussing Women In Science and the impact of the movie 'Hidden Figures'. - Invited speaker at the London Space Expo 2017, organised by the National Space Academy, Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry.- Invited panelist at Science Museum London, speaking to over 120 students about Selfies, Space & Surgery, alongside QE Prize 2017 winners.- Invited speaker & teacher training course trainer at Royal Academy of Engineering, London (2017).- Lectured to King's College London (University of London, UK) Students on 'Future Human Spaceflight Training and Operations'.- American Scientist Author. Article Title: A Space Suit that Squeezes#1 Blog Post of 2015 in The Long View : http://www.americanscientist.org/blog/pub/most-popular-blog-posts-2015

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  European Space Agency - ESA (via Terma B.V.)

  • ESTEC, Netherlands

  • Space Operations Engineer

    • Jun 2016 - Aug 2019
    • ESTEC, Netherlands

    - Operations engineering for the European Robotic Arm (ERA) and Meteron projects, and for future human spaceflight projects including ISS technology demonstrations- Liaising with GCTC (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre) and RSC-Energia (industry) based in Moscow for instructor and crew training issues, including maintenance of the ERA Astronaut Training Database (ATD) at ESA-EAC (European Astronaut Centre)- Training planning, development and delivery including joint cosmonaut instructor and EVA training with MCC-M (ISS Mission Control Centre, Moscow)- Interface management and coordination between ESA and GCTC (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre) and RSC-Energia (industry), including ERA EICD technical definition- Development of novel crew (astronaut) training techniques and user systems including virtual reality and mixed reality training development lead- Maintaining ERA Risk Register and Schedule, including dependency management.- ERA Outreach, Communication and Education point of contact.- Preparation activities prior to ERA on-orbit operations – Security Management Plan responsible for ERA Support Centre at ESTEC- ERA Mission Preparation and Training Equipment (MPTE) User Level Acceptance Test planning, execution & maintenance, including software and hardware upgrade acceptance along with procedure and test mission preparation- European Robotic Arm (ERA) mission simulation development and testing- Logistics & medical support organisation for ERA integration and launch campaign in Baikonur and test campaigns in analogue sites (field tests).- Supporting the development of specific qualification and (ISS) flight demonstrations of technology items needed for human exploration.- Performing system definition studies for future human exploration developments.- Software management for the projects in the office- ERA and MPTE (Mission planning, training and development laboratories) inventory configuration management and international audit support

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  Space Generation Advisory Council in support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications

  • Vienna, Austria

  • PR & Communications Team Co-Lead

    • Jul 2014 - 2016
    • Vienna, Austria

    • Working with young space sector leaders as part of SGAC's Executive Council and leadership team. • Collaborating with the SGAC network and Executive Office to report on their many activitiesworldwide through content and digital campaign creation.• Establishing strategic relationships with space publications and industry.• Developing event communications strategies, including web news, articles, videos and interviews.• Use of Content Management Systems to edit web based content using HTML/CSS.

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  Miovision Technologies

  • Kitchener, Canada Area

  • Engineering Manager - Intelligent Transportation Systems

    • 2013 - 2014
    • Kitchener, Canada Area

    - Leading the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) group and Computer Vision R&D team. Specifically focused on Miovision's Spectrum product conducting real-time traffic signal optimization (Adaptive Signal Control - ASC) through the use of video analytics and cloud computing.- Project Management: Planning requirements with internal customers and moving projects through the entire project framework. Including managing schedules, budgets, identifying product risks and clearly communicating them to stakeholders. Developing feature lists, requirements documentation and test methodologies.- Collaborating with the ITS Engineering, Product Management and Business Development team to develop and launch new products and services. Conducting ITS Program Management. - Supporting Business Development through developing customer and partner relationships, Identifying new relevant business opportunities.- Conducting ITS market analysis and maintaining technology trend awareness.- Promoting customer-oriented business aptitude and technical design.- Formerly Technical Project Lead for engineering projects (2013).

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  DLR (via Telespazio VEGA Deutschland)

  • Cologne Area, Germany

  • ISS Payload Operations Engineer

    • Jan 2011 - Dec 2012
    • Cologne Area, Germany

    -Based at MUSC (Microgravity User Support Center) at DLR Cologne. One of ESA's 9 User Support and Operations Centres. - Executed payloads operations onboard the International Space Station (ISS), including the Materials Science Laboratory (MSL) and DOSIS. Developed materials science experiments to be performed onboard the ISS, and supported the related real time space operations until data delivery to the scientific teams. -Additionally involved in planning of crew and payload activities, crew training and crew procedure development. Led the team to develop crew procedures for the Electromagnetic Levitator (EML), an ESA payload to be launched in 2013. -Presented training sessions to management, colleagues and clients regarding payload integration and assembly. Produced training material for international project teams.ESA Certificate of Flight Readiness (CoFR) process trained.Publications:Marwaha, V. Development of EVA Suit Design and Operational Procedures For Lunar Exploration. IAC-11-A1.6.4 (2011). Presented at the 62nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Cape Town, South Africa.

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  European Space Agency

  • Cologne Area, Germany

  • Trainee in the Space Medicine Office at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC)

    • May 2010 - Dec 2010
    • Cologne Area, Germany

    Worked on the Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit project in the Space Medicine Office (Former:Crew Medical Support Office).-Investigated recent developments concerning the various factors of bone loss to develop a wearing regime and a loading metric for the skinsuit. Regularly presented technical reports to division regarding current project status.Observed Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) training runs and operational procedures at the Neutral Buoyancy Facility for a Masters thesis. Analysed EVA training, suit design and operations for lunar exploration in the context of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) framework. -Recommendations for EVA suit design and training operational procedures were suggested, based an independent review of Apollo and International Space Station (ISS) lessons learned, concerning EVA operations and training. Initial theories to develop these designs and recommendations were presented based on my conclusions and successive independent analysis. Further work includes analysis in the context of Human-Robotic interaction for future human exploration missions based on the fundamentals of the ISECG Architecture Working Group (IAWG) working group, in particular the Robotics and Servicing subgroup.Publications:Marwaha et al. Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit (GLCS); provision of +Gz loading in microgravity. (2011) Presented at 82nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA).Marwaha V. A current understanding of the various factors of bone loss incorporated into the development of the Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit (GLCS). (2011) International Space University (ISU).

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  UKSEDS

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Membership and Branches Secretary

    • Nov 2008 - Dec 2009
    • London, United Kingdom

    Elected member of the UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) committee, which is actively involved in the promotion of the exploration of space, and the development of space-related technologies for students and young professionals. Organised and attended regular meetings with the committee at the BIS (British Interplanetary Society). Involved in the successful execution of the UKSC (UK Space Conference) 2009.

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  CranSEDS, UKSEDS

  • Cranfield, United Kingdom

  • President

    • Nov 2008 - Nov 2009
    • Cranfield, United Kingdom

    CranSEDS is a branch of UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) based at Cranfield University, UK. It promotes events and activities on a regional level for students and young professionals with an interest in space. The branch has also provided many new opportunities for its members including visits to the annual UKSEDS conference, lectures at the RAeS and the chance to meet visiting speakers from industry and agencies.

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  International Space University

  • Mountain View, California

  • Teaching Associate

    • Jun 2009 - Sep 2009
    • Mountain View, California

    Teaching Associate of the Space Physical Sciences department at SSP09 based at NASA Ames Research Centre.Taught at SSP09 in the Physical Sciences department. Regularly presented to students of various nationalities and professional backgrounds. Worked closely with NASA and ESA personnel to educate the participants about the principles of space physics, astronomy and astrophysics. Developed excellent organisational skills through planning events, including international panels with distinguished lecturers and guests.

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  British Interplanetary Society

  • Glasgow, United Kingdom

  • Volunteer at the IAC

    • Sep 2008 - Oct 2008
    • Glasgow, United Kingdom

    Worked as a member of UKSEDS for the BIS (British Interplanetary Society) at the IAC (International Astronautical Congress) in Glasgow. Duties included registering delegates, helping exhibitors and writing evaluations of technical sessions. Acquired diplomacy skills and communicated well during problematic situations.

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  UKSEDS

  • London, United Kingdom

  • UKSEDS liason for the Maxwell Society, King's College London, UK

    • Jun 2007 - Sep 2008
    • London, United Kingdom

    Established a UKSEDS branch at King's College London. I was additionally the Secretary of the branch called the Maxwell Society. This was the university physics society.

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  King's College London

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Research Assistant

    • Jul 2007 - Sep 2007
    • London, United Kingdom

    Undertook an extremely successful internship in the Physics and Dentistry departments at King's College London. -Contributed to the biophotonics research field immediately and produced innovative results.-Prepared samples and analysed these using Raman spectroscopy to investigate dental decay diagnosis and prevention.-The purpose of the research was to design a scanning device that could allow dental professionals to efficiently diagnose the health of a tooth, with minimal discomfort to the patient, providing a visual image output of the tooth. The outcome would be a higher likelihood of saving the tooth.-Worked efficiently to a strict deadline and communicated well with supervisors.Gained excellent analytical skills by writing regular reports, conveying the results I had attained.

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  Maple Dental Practice

  • Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom

  • Dental Assistant

    • Jul 2003 - Oct 2005
    • Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom

    The practice specialised for nervous patients; therefore patient communication was of the utmost importance. The role taught me the importance of teamwork and effective interpersonal skills to build a friendly and profitable business practice.