“A collaborative effort by Human Spaceflight Centre, ISRO, AAKA Space Studio, University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, this mission will simulate life in an interplanetary habitat to tackle the challenges of a base station beyond Earth,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said in a post on microblogging site X.
Aaka Space Studio, a private company specialising in space architecture and analogue research, is set to lead a 21-day Mars and Moon mission in the rugged terrain of Ladakh, the company said in a press statement.
The mission will simulate the extreme conditions of extraterrestrial environments, marking a milestone in India’s quest to advance human spaceflight and analogue research in support of the Gaganyaan programme and future missions such as Bharatiya Antariksh Station, it said.
The findings from the expedition will directly support India’s Gaganyaan mission, slated to send Indian astronauts into space by 2026. By conducting rigorous tests in extreme environments, the research will provide critical insights for ensuring the safety, health and performance of astronauts during long-duration spaceflight.
The analogue space mission in Ladakh, aims to break new ground by replicating conditions on both Mars and the Moon.
Discover the stories of your interest
Ladakh’s extreme isolation, harsh climate and unique geographical features make it the ideal location to simulate the environmental challenges astronauts will face on these celestial bodies. Its arid climate, high altitude and barren landscapes closely resemble the conditions found on Mars and the Moon, making it an ideal site for space analogue missions, the statement said.It further said that Ladakh’s rugged landscape offers an excellent venue, simulating extravehicular activities and low-gravity operations crucial for future Moon and Mars missions.
The concept of utilising Ladakh for space research was proposed by Aloke Kumar, associate professor, Indian Institute of Science; Shubhanshu Shukla, one of India’s four Gaganyaan astronauts; and Binita Phartiyal, scientist at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences.
The mission’s deployable habitat, designed by Aaka Space Studio, is a lightweight fabric structure engineered for extreme environments, said the statement. The deployable lightweight fabric structure will be tested for its durability and performance in harsh conditions, offering vital insights for lunar and Martian missions, it said.
The expedition will study the impact of isolation and extreme environmental conditions on human health and performance, providing crucial insights into the psychological and physiological challenges faced during long-duration space missions.
The analogue astronaut will collect daily biometric data, including heart rate, blood oxygen, body temperature and other vital signs to understand how human biology adapts to isolation and extreme environments.
The habitat will feature a circadian lighting system designed to regulate the astronaut’s sleep-wake cycle, enhancing well-being during long-term isolation. The data will provide valuable insights into how lighting can be used to support human health in space.
The mission will test life support systems essential for sustaining astronauts in extraterrestrial environments. These include monitoring air quality, water recycling and energy efficiency within the habitat.
