Rishabh Maharaja

Rishabh Maharaja is an Adjunct Professor of Astronautical Engineering at Capitol Technology University (Capitol Tech), where he teaches and serves as a founding member and concept developer of the Space Flight Operations Training Center (SFOTC). He has been at Capitol Tech since 2010, leading projects like the ROCKSAT-X sounding rocket payloads and the CACTUS-1 CubeSat mission, which launched in 2021. His research focuses on TCP/IP-based satellite systems, satellite communication protocols, and interdisciplinary space education.

Professionally, he holds roles as Chief Technology Officer at Krionics-Space and Management & Program Analyst at the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Office, contributing to space policy and regulation development. At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), he served as Systems Review Manager and led Mission Operations Assurance Engineering for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

He earned an Associate in Applied Sciences (2010), BS and MS in Astronautical Engineering (2013) from Capitol Tech, and an MS in International Policy & Practice (2021) from George Washington University, focusing on space policy and human health in space.