HOPE STATION – INDIA’S FIRST PLANETARY ANALOGUE SITE

Current Context: India has set up a unique analogue research station called Human Outer Planet Exploration (HOPE) at Tso Kar in Ladakh, developed by ISRO and Bengaluru-based company Protoplanet.

ABOUT HUMAN OUTER PLANET EXPLORATION (HOPE)

• Location: Tso Kar, Ladakh (Altitude: over 14,500 feet)
• Developed By:
  • Protoplanet (Private space-tech company)
  • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• Purpose:
  • Simulates the conditions of the Moon and Mars
  • Used to test space technology, study human survival, and prepare for interplanetary missions
• Analogue Site:
  • A place on Earth that closely matches the terrain and environment of other planets
  • Useful for training astronauts, testing life-support systems, and conducting scientific studies

Significance for India :

• India’s first such station, helping in future human space missions
• Will support research in physiology, psychology, and technical readiness for long-duration space travel

GLOBAL CONTEXT:

• Number of Analogue Stations Worldwide: 33
• Famous Stations:
  • BIOS-3 (Russia)
  • HERA (United States – NASA)
  • SHEE (Europe)
  • Mars Desert Research Station (Utah, United States)