Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:25am on 06 Aug 2025,Wednesday Science
ISRO Chief Dr V Narayanan inaugurated the Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration (HOPE) in Ladakh to simulate life on Mars. Located at 4.3 km altitude in Tso Kar Valley, the HOPE facility mimics Martian conditions—extreme cold, low pressure, and UV radiation. The 10-day analogue mission from August 1-10 involves institutions like IIST and IIT Bombay, studying psychological and physiological responses in isolation. The Rs 1 crore project by private firm Protoplanet, with Mahindra as mobility partner, is part of India’s push for human spaceflight. India aims for a space station by 2035 and a crewed lunar landing by 2040. (PC: X)
