Leh: In a major step forward for India’s planetary exploration ambitions, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has established the Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration (HOPE) in Ladakh’s Tso Kar Valley, media reports said.

Designed as a Mars-like analogue site, the facility will be used to test life-support technologies and mission protocols for future Moon and Mars expeditions, NDTV reported.

The station was inaugurated on July 31 by ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan. Spearheaded by ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre, the HOPE project is being carried out in collaboration with an industry partner and leading Indian research institutes.

The Tso Kar Valley was selected for its striking similarities to Martian conditions, including high ultraviolet radiation, low atmospheric pressure, extreme cold, and saline permafrost.

The outpost consists of two modules — an eight-metre-wide living space for crew and a five-metre utility unit for essential equipment and systems.

A 10-day trial mission is currently underway from August 1 to 10, where two crew members will be housed inside for simulation and testing.

Researchers from institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad, IIST Trivandrum, RGCB Trivandrum, and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Bengaluru are conducting a range of experiments.

These include monitoring physical and mental health during isolation, evaluating medical technologies, and simulating planetary surface operations and microbial collection.

“A Rehearsal for the Future”

Calling the mission “a rehearsal for the future,” Dr Narayanan said HOPE is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to boost private sector engagement in the space sector.

Astrobiology clues from Puga Valley

In a parallel scientific breakthrough, researchers studying the geothermal springs of Ladakh’s Puga Valley have found organic compounds that could shed light on the origins of life on Earth.

A study by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) uncovered the presence of amino acids, fatty acids, formamide, and sulphur in calcium carbonate formations in the valley.

“The high UV exposure and extreme conditions of the Puga Valley mimic those of early Earth and potentially, ancient Mars,” said Dr Amritpal Singh Chaddha, the study’s lead author, according to the report

The findings, published in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, along with the HOPE analogue mission, are firmly placing Ladakh at the centre of India’s space and astrobiology research.