Re-entry capsules open up unprecedented opportunities for a wide array of applications, including biomedical and material sciences research, In-Orbit Demonstration and Verification (IOD/IOV), and the manufacturing of products in space.
Pushya Subramanyam, our next pathbreaker, works as System Engineer – Propulsion at ATMOS Space Cargo (Germany), a company which designs and manufactures space capsules to return any cargo from below 100 kg to multiple tons from space to earth.
Pushya talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about her work starting with car engines, internships and small projects on aircraft and CubeSats, and sounding rockets before moving on to work at space startups.
For students, your dreams are your rocket fuel! So, aim high, work hard, and never stop reaching for the stars.
Pushya, Your background?
I grew up in Bengaluru, and I was always that kid who wanted to take things apart just to see how they worked. I loved solving math puzzles, doing little science experiments, and figuring out how machines and airplanes actually fly. Rockets, planets, space. I just couldn’t get enough of it. I spent hours wondering, “How do things work? How do airplanes fly? Could humans really travel beyond Earth? How do we even make that happen?” Doing diy projects, reading encyclopedias, playing sports like cycling, badminton and throwball and learning music were some of my hobbies.
What did you do for graduation/post-graduation?
I am very grateful to my parents that I was able to pursue my curiosity in science and math, the same curiosity that eventually led me to study B.E in Mechanical Engineering, and later my Masters in Space Engineering from the University of Bremen.
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Space Science?
I wanted to understand not just the formulas and physics, but how to actually build machines that could go to space. My mom has been my biggest cheerleader and growing up in India where we often repair even household items and machines over throwing it away, I learnt a lot about tools, sitting with my dad repairing things. Along the way, I met teachers, senior engineers, and professionals who had already worked on aircraft and jet engines. They showed me that it was possible to turn curiosity into something real. Every little project, every question, every experiment felt like a step towards that dream.
I started with projects on car engines, internships and small projects on aircraft and CubeSats, and sounding rockets and later moved on to work at space startups. I got hands-on with rocket engines, re-entry capsules, and full spacecraft systems. At my first full time job in Germany, I analysed the designed engines that can survive extreme heat, simulating combustion and fluid flow, and making structures strong enough to handle intense high temperature and pressure.
Tell us about your career path
Although during my studies I attended workshops in designing and building automotive engines, Aerospace has always been my interest. For my B.E, I designed and optimized the shape of the first stage of compressor blades of a propulsion system used for a supersonic flight.
After my B.E, I took up a course on Astrophysics and Astronomy at M.P Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru.
After that I joined my Master studies. Since then, I have worked on multiple space systems like Asteroid Lander, Sounding Rocket, Cubesat, Balloon launched experiments.
ZARM (Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity) and DLR (German Aerospace Center) are key players in European space research. I worked as Research Assistant at ZARM analyzing the aerodynamic stability of the sounding rocket.
The balloon launched experiment was intended for analyzing atmospheric data collection and trajectory prediction of the system which was done for DLR in the department of Landing and Exploration Systems as part of my master’s Project.
For my masters thesis at DLR, I worked on an energy absorber for an asteroid lander, similar to that of MASCOT for DLR in the department of Landing and Exploration Systems for over a year and I continued another half a year as Research Assistant. The energy absorber was a sandwich structure made of composite face sheet with honeycomb core. I analysed the solid interface between the lander and energy absorber and correlated simulation results with laboratory tests.
After my Masters I did additional short online courses on Avionics and Design with STAR (Space Technology and Aeronautical Rocketry), Space Economy and Entrepreneur with ispace-SEAC. I joined another student group to also work virtually on Martian drone system.
Before joining my current company, I joined at POLARIS Raumflugzeuge GmbH as Structural Design and Analysis Engineer. POLARIS develops reusable spaceplanes and hypersonic transport systems, aiming for aircraft-like, routine, cost-effective access to space using horizontal take-off/landing from airports.
At Polaris, I was later involved in conducting comprehensive conjugated fluid thermal and thermo-mechanical analyses of rocket engines to ensure optimal performance and structural integrity.
Some of my other responsibilities at POLARIS :
Performing analytical combustion analyses of rocket engines to assess and optimize combustion efficiency.
Utilizing conjugate heat transfer analysis techniques to study and optimize the thermal behavior of rocket engines.
Developed the design of the ejection mechanism for the flight recovery system, ensuring safe and efficient deployment.
Conducted calculations and testing of the parachute system to assess its performance and reliability in various flight scenarios.
How did you get your first break?
I don’t really believe in the idea of a single “first break.” For me, it was more about consistent hard work meeting the right opportunities at the right time. Each step mattered and carried its own weight.
If I had to explain the journey, one important moment was deciding to come to Germany for my Master’s in Space Engineering. That opened doors to a completely new ecosystem of research, industry, and hands-on projects. From there, I got the opportunity to do my master’s project and thesis at DLR, which gave me real exposure to how space systems are designed and tested at a professional level.
That experience naturally led to my first job in the space industry. Looking back, none of these moments stand alone, they’re all connected. Preparation, persistence, and showing up consistently created the opportunities, rather than one sudden breakthrough. World is full of possiblities and opportunities to grow, we have to be open enough to take it.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Things weren’t always smooth. With regards to all the projects, sometimes the problem was with the system, sometimes it was with the team, or the process we were using. But I learned to embrace failure, stay curious, and find creative solutions. Every challenge became a chance to grow. On the other hand personally, moving to another country can seem challenging at first. But the purpose behind the decision always has kept me motivated.
Tell us about your current role
I work at ATMOS Space Cargo which designs and manufactures space capsules to return any cargo from below 100 kg to multiple tons from space to earth.
Here, I work as a Propulsion System Engineer on re-entry capsule projects. My days are a mix of designing, testing, simulating, and collaborating with smart people from different teams. The best part? Watching ideas actually turn into machines that could fly into space. Knowing that the work I do pushes humanity a little closer to all the possiblities of space exploration.
How does your work benefit society?
Our re-entry capsules open up unprecedented opportunities for a wide array of applications, including biomedical and material sciences research, In-Orbit Demonstration and Verification (IOD/IOV), and the manufacturing of products in space.
Can you tell us about a memorable project?
One of the recent project that will always stay with me was assembling and testing a re-entry capsule. Seeing the system come together, knowing that the parts we had worked on might actually go to space, that’s the kind of moment that makes everything worth it. It reminds me why I do what I do: to create, to explore, and to dream.
Your advice to students?
To all students reading this: never let anyone tell you your dreams are too big. If you dream of galaxies, even if you stumble, you might land among the stars and that’s still incredible. Stay curious, follow what excites you, ask questions, try things out, learn by failing and believe in yourself. Teamwork, perseverance, and imagination matter just as much as the things you learn in textbooks. And most importantly gratitude to all those who help you along the way.
The future is wide open. Build your skills, chase your ideas, and maybe one day, you’ll design rockets, spacecrafts, or technologies that take humanity farther than we’ve ever gone. Your dreams are your rocket fuel aim high, work hard, and never stop reaching for the stars.