From August 1 to August 10, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched HOPE, its first-ever 10-day high-altitude analog space mission, in the Tso Kar Valley in Ladakh.
In order to prepare for upcoming space exploration trips to the Moon and Mars, India is working to model and research the conditions and difficulties of extraterrestrial settings, and this mission is a vital component of that endeavor.
Given its chilly desert climate, high elevation (over 4,500 meters), rough terrain, and harsh weather conditions, such as low oxygen and temperature swings, Tso Kar Valley was selected for its remarkable likeness to lunar and Martian landscapes. These geographical characteristics offer the perfect analog environment on Earth for testing human endurance and life-supporting technologies in settings that closely resemble those found in space.
Testing of a small, inflatable, self-sustaining habitat is part of the mission, which aims to simulate the extreme climatic conditions and solitude of space. With features including a kitchen, sanitary facilities, a hydroponics farm, and a special circadian lighting system, this habitat (Hab-1) gives scientists important information on biological, psychological, and technical issues that are important for long-duration space missions.
The analogue astronauts studied human health and performance under stress and hypoxic conditions similar to those on Mars by participating in extravehicular exercises (simulated spacewalks) and daily biometric monitoring (heart rate, oxygen levels, and temperature).
The Human Space Flight Centre of ISRO, AAKA Space Studio, University of Ladakh, IIT-Bombay, and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council worked together on this mission. In order to successfully complete India’s planned interplanetary missions—including its objective of establishing a permanent extraterrestrial base and carrying out human lunar landings by 2040—the data and insights gathered from this mission will be used to improve life support systems, habitat designs, and human factors engineering.
By enhancing earlier analog research projects in Ladakh and enhancing the region’s reputation as a key site for planetary sciences, the 10-day HOPE expedition at Tso Kar Valley represents a major step forward in India’s space exploration ambitions.
For ISRO’s larger objectives, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program and the eventual construction of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station), it provides vital contributions. Additionally, this mission places India in a position to participate in international terrestrial simulations aimed at addressing the complexity of extraterrestrial life.
By simulating harsh extraterrestrial circumstances in Ladakh’s Tso Kar Valley for ten days, the HOPE mission tests human physiology, homes, and sustainability systems in preparation for India’s planned human expeditions to the Moon and Mars in the ensuing decades.
