Isro begins 10-day analogue mission in Ladakh to simulate life in space
The mission, dubbed Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration (Hope), features an advanced, inflatable habitat designed to replicate life-support systems that astronauts would rely on during spaceflight.Outfitted with hydroponics for food, sanitation systems, and a self-sustaining kitchen, Hab-1 will house a hand-picked two-member 'analogue crew' living in utter isolation for ten days. These analogue astronauts a planetary science graduate and a PhD researcher, were chosen from 135 applicants to simulate the psychological and physiological stresses of a real Moon mission.Ladakh was selected due to its extreme isolation, high-altitude terrain, and lunar-like geology, providing an environment where oxygen levels are just 40% of those found at sea level.Ladakh has unique geological characteristics that closely resemble Martian and lunar landscapes. Its cold, arid conditions and high altitude provide an ideal environment for testing technologies and strategies necessary for long-duration space missions.These conditions allow for detailed examination of how life support systems, habitats, and protocols perform under the intense pressures of space-like isolation and scarcity.Analogue missions are a globally recognised method for field-testing everything from astronaut health monitoring and emergency drills to robotics and communications in challenging conditions.The Ladakh mission, part of Isro's preparations for its upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight as well as longer lunar ambitions, involves diverse partners, including IIT Bombay, the University of Ladakh, and private collaborators such as Protoplanet.The data collected will help researchers optimise crew health, adapt technologies for the lunar surface, and better understand how human teams operate cut off from the world for extended periods. It also demonstrates India's growing capability and scientific leadership as the nation pursues its goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon and, eventually, other planets.- Ends
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