Context: Bengaluru-based space organisation Protoplanet has launched the HOPE Station in Ladakh’s Tso Kar basin to simulate Moon and Mars-like conditions for human space research.

What Is HOPE?

• A Moon and Mars simulation research station located in the cold desert terrain of Tso Kar, Ladakh.
• Designed to mimic off-Earth environmental conditions such as extreme isolation, low temperatures, and barren landscapes.

Developed By

• Led by Protoplanet, a Bengaluru-based space outreach organisation.
• Supported technically and financially by ISRO.

Project Objectives

• Study psychological, physiological, and epigenetic effects of extreme isolation on humans.
• Generate data to aid:
  • India’s first crewed lunar mission (targeted by 2040)
  • Development of a space station (by 2035)

Key Features

• Location: High-altitude Tso Kar basin in Ladakh — similar to lunar and Martian terrain.
• Crew Simulation:
  • Two scientists to live in total isolation for 10 days.
  • Focus on stress adaptation, mental health, and biological changes in confined, harsh conditions.
• Crew Selection: Based on ISRO-guided protocols.
• Future Plans: Rotating crew experiments to observe individual variability under space-analog conditions.

Significance

• Advances India’s preparedness for human space exploration and interplanetary missions.
• Strengthens India’s position in space research infrastructure, joining the ranks of the US, Canada, and Russia.
• Provides vital data for upcoming missions like Gaganyaan and the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

Source: The Hindu |