Produced by: Manoj Kumar
A futuristic egg-shaped Hab-1 has been tested by ISRO in Ladakh, simulating conditions astronauts may face on the Moon or Mars.
Hab-1 marks India’s first analog mission, where space conditions are recreated to train astronauts for real missions.
Space architect Aastha Kacha-Jhala designed Hab-1 with Teflon, foam insulation, and a dry toilet system to prepare for resource-limited environments.
The high-altitude, rocky terrain of Ladakh was chosen for testing due to its Mars-like landscape and harsh conditions.
A simulation astronaut spent three weeks in Hab-1 under strict schedules, monitored for health and stress to study endurance.
ISRO joins NASA, ESA, and other global agencies using simulation missions for Moon and Mars exploration.
Plans are underway to build India’s first permanent analog simulation center in Ladakh for astronaut training.
Monitoring devices tracked sleep, heart rate, and stress, with blood and saliva samples collected daily to analyze human responses.
India’s Gaganyaan mission and plans for a Moon base by 2040 underline the significance of analog missions like Hab-1.