March 20, 2024

Find Your Place In Space

9 minutes

What if your career not only fulfilled your ambitions but launched them into orbit? That’s what happened to our guest, Rachita Puri, an aerospace engineer in the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

In this episode, Rachita shares how a job fair at her university led her to the FAA, where she enjoys a rewarding career ensuring public safety during human space flights, rocket launches and reentries. She details how her position affords her out-of-this-world experiences, including witnessing her first ever space launch in person that left her with goosebumps.

Tune in to hear about a day in the life of Rachita, an aerospace engineer, who talks about her insights on the future of space travel, the importance of having diverse people involved in aerospace, and her valuable advice for aspiring space professionals. There are so many ways to make an impact in space.

The FAA plays a crucial role in space safety through its Office of Commercial Space Transportation, which has cool career opportunities and initiatives. Share this episode to help spread the word to anyone interested in aerospace or who may be unsure about a career path. There may just be a place in space at the FAA for them.

Meet Our Guest:

Rachita Puri is an Aerospace Engineer for the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation in Washington D.C., where she leads the safety authorization for space launches and reentries. She also serves as the FAA's licensing liaison to government partners including NASA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Department of State. Rachita holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from The Ohio State University, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Science and Technology at The George Washington University. In her free time, Rachita volunteers with the Space Generation Advisory Council to reach youth.

Disclaimer: Reference in this podcast to any specific commercial product, process, service, manufacturer, company, or trademark does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. government, Department of Transportation, or Federal Aviation Administration. As an agency of the U.S. government, the FAA cannot endorse or appear to endorse any specific product or service.

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