India’s Space Agency Tests Potential Lunar and Martian Habitat Design

This egg-shaped structure may represent a potential future dwelling for Indian astronauts in space. Known as Hab-1, an abbreviation for Habitat-1, it constitutes the Indian space agency Isro’s inaugural “analog mission.” This term signifies a simulation of space environments designed to ready astronauts for actual space expeditions. The facility underwent a three-week testing period recently in the elevated Himalayan region of Ladakh. Aastha Kacha-Jhala, a space architect affiliated with the Gujarat-based company Aaka, informed the BBC that such simulations are instrumental in pinpointing and resolving potential challenges that astronauts and their equipment could encounter prior to space missions. Constructed from space-grade Teflon and insulated with industrial-use foam, Hab-1 incorporates a bed, a retractable stowaway tray that serves as a workstation, storage areas for supplies and emergency kits, a kitchenette for meal preparation, and a toilet. During the simulation, an astronaut remained confined within the facility for three weeks. “Hab-1 is designed keeping in mind that space is going to be very limited on the Moon or Mars,” stated Ms Kacha-Jhala. She added, “The astronaut will also have very limited water so we designed a dry toilet. We also put in place a system for a proper disposal of waste and ensured that the habitat remained odour-free.” Currently, she is engaged in discussions with Isro regarding the establishment of India’s first permanent space simulation facility, to be located in Ladakh. This mission coincides with India’s preparations to launch its initial group of astronauts into space. Isro’s Gaganyaan mission aims to deploy three astronauts into low-Earth orbit at an altitude of 400km (248 miles) for a duration of three days. Should the plans proceed as anticipated, the mission is scheduled for launch sometime next year. Furthermore, India intends to establish its inaugural space station by 2035 and dispatch a human to the Moon by 2040. Space agencies such as Nasa, the European Space Agency, Russia, and China, along with other nations and private companies involved in space programs, conduct numerous simulation missions. Currently, two of the four Indian astronauts chosen for the Gaganyaan mission are undergoing training at Nasa. Prof Subrat Sharma, Dean of Research Studies at Ladakh University, a collaborator on the project, stated, “Once we have our own simulation mission, we won’t have to depend on foreign space agencies to train our astronauts.” He informed the BBC that Ladakh was selected for this experiment because, “from a geographical perspective, its rocky, barren landscape and soil have similarities with the material and rocks found on Mars and some parts of the lunar terrain which make it ideal for space research.” The university is currently analyzing soil samples gathered during the mission to ascertain whether astronauts could utilize locally available materials for constructing habitats in space. Situated at an elevation of 3,500 metres (11,483ft) on the India-China border, this Himalayan region experiences extreme climatic conditions and reduced atmospheric pressure. Daily temperatures can fluctuate significantly, ranging from a high of 20C to a low of -18C. While these conditions do not fully replicate those on Mars (where temperatures can drop below -153C) or the Moon (where -250C is typical in certain deep craters), they nonetheless provide a rigorous test of human resilience. As Prof Sharma remarked, “since you can’t go to space to test every time, you need these facilities where space-like conditions can be created.” He further noted that Ladakh is an Indian region characterized by vast expanses of barren land, which “giving you the feeling of being alone on the planet.” This sentiment was precisely echoed by the simulation astronaut, a 24-year-old who wished to remain anonymous, after spending three weeks isolated within the capsule in the frigid desert. He recounted, “I was isolated from the human environment. Every move that I made was scheduled, when to wake up, what to do when and when to sleep? A 24×7 camera monitored every move and sent data about my activities and health to the back office.” He elaborated, “The initial few days were great, but then it began to feel repetitive and it started to get to me. It started impacting my daily performance. My sleep schedule was affected a little and my concentration deteriorated.” The astronaut participating in the simulation utilized biometric devices to track his sleep patterns, heart rate, and stress levels. Daily tests of his blood and saliva were conducted to assess his physiological and psychological adaptation. According to scientists, a critical component of the mission involves simulating psychological factors to understand their potential effects on humans in space. As global space agencies plan to dispatch astronauts to the Moon and establish permanent outposts in the coming years, simulation missions are anticipated to be vital for both research and training. In April, a group of scientists and engineers commenced trials in Oregon to ready Nasa’s robotic dog, Lassie, for traversing the Moon’s surface. In July, four volunteers concluded a year-long stay at an “analog” facility in Texas, specifically constructed to mimic conditions on Mars. The Economist magazine also reported that Nasa aims to 3D-print a lunar base using only indigenous materials, while China and Russia are jointly developing their own strategies. India is keen to keep pace with these developments. Prof Sharma indicated that once the data collected in Ladakh undergoes analysis, it “will help us develop medical technology to deal with the needs of our astronauts when they face a problem in space.” He further explained, “We need to know how our bodies will function on the Moon where days and nights are a lot longer than on Earth. Or in space where there’s not enough oxygen.”