Rita (Ritambhara)

Space Engineering | Young Australian Space Leader 2025 | Founder, The Extraterrestrials (E.T.) - Genesis C37 & Incubate C21 | Organising Committee, Space Generation Congress 2025 | Space x Climate x Disaster Resilience

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

About

Committed to making use of space technologies to solve critical problems on Earth that deserve more attention. An extremely passionate space enthusiast with an aspiration to make a significant impact in the space industry and change the world for the better. Dedicated to helping humanity advance its methods of exploring the vast expanse of the universe, while striving to not only push the space industry forward but also make it more accessible to people around the world.

Experience

  • Founder at The Extraterrestrials (E.T.)
    Oct 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 10 mos

    A modular early warning system for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) — powered by space tech for multi-layer disaster resilience. Supported by: Sydney Genesis, INCUBATE, Blackbird Giants (by Blackbird VC), Verge (by NextGen Ventures, Blackbird & Women's Leadership Institute Australia)

  • Founder at Genesis Cohort 37 at The University of Sydney Business School
    Mar 2026 - Present · 5 mos

  • Space Generation Advisory Council (1 yr 9 mos)
    • Member
      Nov 2024 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

    • Space Generation Congress (SGC) 2025 Organising Team - Logistics
      Mar 2025 - Oct 2025 · 8 mos

    • Team Member, Team Mars or Bust - Selected for the ACHIEVED Contest
      Feb 2025 - Oct 2025 · 9 mos

      Selected as one of 18 global teams for the ACHIEVED (Assembly for Concepts in Human Interplanetary Extraterrestrial Designations) Competition, an international space mission design contest aimed to tackle pressing challenges in the space sector. We are one of the six teams working on the theme “On the Way to Mars and Beyond,” and represent one of the two Australian teams selected. Over the course of the upcoming months, we would be going through a 6-month design project, research, technical evaluations and develop a solution to ensure longevity on Mars. With mentorship from experts in the space sector and access to dedicated support sessions to help refine our solutions, over the course of these months we hope to revolutionize space exploration.

  • Sydney University Astronomy Society (1 yr 10 mos)
    • Secretary
      Aug 2025 - May 2026 · 10 mos

    • General Executive
      Aug 2024 - Aug 2025 · 1 yr 1 mo

  • Space Operations Associate at Spiral Blue
    Aug 2025 - Feb 2026 · 7 mos