India’s Mars simulation mission: ISRO tests technology, human endurance in Ladakh

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is undertaking a 10-day mission in Ladakh to simulate Martian conditions as part of its human spaceflight program and future planetary explorations. Located at an altitude of 14,000 ft in the cold, barren terrain of Tso Kar, the project, christened Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration (HOPE), will evaluate the technology and human endurance essential for long-duration missions beyond Earth. India plans to launch astronauts into space by 2027.

“Set in one of Earth’s most Mars-like environments, HOPE is designed to simulate planetary conditions for testing human physiological responses, validating mission protocols, and evaluating spaceflight technologies,” ISRO said in a post on X. “The mission marks a significant milestone in India’s preparations for future human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit and Moon/Mars-class exploration missions.”

Why was Ladakh selected as the site

The Tso Kar valley was specifically selected for this mission due to its striking environmental parallels with early Mars, including high UV flux, low air pressure, cold extremes, and saline permafrost. The mission features a specially designed habitat module for the crew, with a diameter of eight meters, and a utility module, with a diameter of five metres, for operations and support systems. Both modules are interconnected for a seamless workflow. Equipped with hydroponics for food, sanitation systems, and a self-sustaining kitchen, the habitat will house a crew living in utter isolation for 10 days.

In fact, India’s highest space observation site, Indian Astronomical Observatory, is located at Hanle in southeastern Ladakh. The site is among the most suitable globally for optical, infrared, sub-millimetre, and millimetre wavelengths experiments due to its high altitude, dry climate, and minimal light pollution.

Importance of HOPE mission

Indian Human Spaceflight Programme is a national endeavour led by ISRO, aiming to extend human presence across the solar system, starting with human spaceflight missions to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and achieving an Indian crewed lunar landing by 2040, according to ISRO. “This requires undertaking systematic studies to generate necessary Indian subject data for addressing various physiological, psychological, and operational challenges associated with human spaceflight missions,” ISRO said. “In this regard, ground-based analog missions in environments simulating certain aspects of a typical human space mission provide an opportunity to understand human health and performance risks.”

ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) is leading this endeavour. An HSFC team led the Ladakh Human Analog Mission (LHAM) in November 2024 and partnered in the recently concluded ten-day Isolation Study ‘Anugami’ involving ISRO’s Gaganyatri in July 2025. Continuing this endeavour, HOPE is being undertaken from August 1 to 10.

What experiments will be conducted

In his inaugural address, Dr V Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, stated that this analog mission is more than a simulation; rather, it is a rehearsal for the future. The mission is being undertaken in collaboration with an industry partner. Several partnering national institutions, including the Indian Institute of Science and Technology in Bengaluru, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Thiruvananthapuram, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Hyderabad, IIT in Mumbai, and the Institute for Aerospace Medicine in Bengaluru, will conduct experiments.

Investigators from these institutes will examine the epigenetic, genomic, physiological, and psychological responses of the two analog mission crew members and validate health-monitoring protocols, planetary surface operations, and refine sample collection and microbial analysis techniques. The valuable data generated through these analog missions organised by HSFC will form the basis for designing protocols and infrastructure for future Indian human exploration missions by providing key insights into technology performance, crew workflows, and environmental adaptation.