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What will life be like on Mars? Isro's Hope mission in Ladakh offers a clue

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has formally kicked off its first high-altitude analogue mission, Human Outer Planetary Exploration (HOPE), in the cold, high-altitude Mars-like terrain of Tso Kar valley in Ladakh, which mimics the Red Planet in climate and terrain. 'This is a rehearsal for the future,' Isro Chairman Narayanan said during its inauguration. Here's how it will help India's human space programme read more Hope has been set up in one of the most Mars-like environments on Earth, a high-altitude, cold desert in Ladakh located 4,530 metres above sea level. Image courtesy: Isro The cold desert of Ladakh is now home to a unique facility that mimics what life could be like on the Moon or Mars. In a significant step towards India's human spaceflight goals, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has launched its first full-scale analogue simulation mission called HOPE, short for Human Outer Planetary Exploration. Set up in the high-altitude Tso Kar valley, this 10-day mission, which began on August 1, is focused on people, testing how humans handle the physical and mental challenges they would likely face during a long space journey, such as a crewed mission to Mars. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So what exactly is inside the Hope simulator? And how could it shape the way India prepares for future missions to Mars and beyond? Here's a closer look. What is Hope? Hope has been set up in one of the most Mars-like environments on Earth, a high-altitude, cold desert in Ladakh located 4,530 metres above sea level. According to a report by India Today, the Hope habitat is made up of two interconnected modules: an 8-metre-wide living unit for the crew, and a 5-metre utility module that contains essential equipment and support systems. Inside this compact and self-sustaining station, the two-membered crew has access to key facilities including hydroponic farming systems, a kitchen, sanitation setup, and circadian lighting, all designed to closely mimic the kind of life-support systems needed for long-duration missions in space. The mission has been built and is being operated by Protoplanet, a Bengaluru-based startup. Backed by Isro's Human Spaceflight Centre, it also involves scientific contributions from IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad, IIST, and RGCB Trivandrum. According to NDTV, the entire setup has been built by the company for just Rs 1 crore, excluding the simulation of microgravity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, formally inaugurated ISRO's high-altitude analog mission HOPE on 31st July 2025. The mission is scheduled to be conducted from 1st to 10th August 2025 at Tso Kar, Ladakh (elevation: 4,530 metres). Set in one of… — ISRO (@isro) August 1, 2025 'Hope is not just a test of endurance; it's a critical proving ground for India's future human space missions. The insights we gather here will directly impact how we train astronauts, design mission protocols, and develop sustainable spaceflight systems,' said Isro Chairman V Narayanan during the mission's inauguration. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also read: What we know about Vyommitra, the female humanoid that ISRO is sending on the Gaganyaan mission What will happen during Hope? The 10-day mission is packed with carefully planned experiments and activities, all of which are being closely monitored by Isro scientists and mission control teams. Some of the key areas being tested include: -Monitoring physical health: Real-time monitoring of how the crew's body responds to high altitude and low-oxygen conditions. -Studying mental well-being: Analysis of stress levels, cognitive functioning, and teamwork performance in an enclosed and isolated setting. -Testing new tech: Field testing of advanced equipment like biomedical devices, prototype spacesuits, and communication tools under simulated Mars conditions. -Running emergency drills: Simulations of possible mission crises, such as equipment failure or health emergencies, to test how well response protocols work in extreme environments. 'This is going to be a very major facility,' Dr V Narayanan told NDTV. 'It will be helping us in a big way, especially in simulating most aspects of space missions except microgravity'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why was Ladakh chosen for Hope? The Indian space agency chose Tso Kar Valley in Ladakh for a reason. This high-altitude desert, sitting at 4,530 metres above sea level, offers some of the most Mars-like conditions on Earth. The thin air, low oxygen, extreme cold, high UV radiation, and rocky terrain closely resemble what astronauts would face on another planet. In fact, Ladakh has already been used in previous smaller Isro analogue projects, including the Ladakh Human Analogue Mission (LHAM) in 2024 and a ten-day Anugami Isolation Study involving Isro's Gaganyatri Astronaut Group Captain Angad Pratap, earlier in 2025. The Hope mission builds on those experiments, but this time, it's full-scale and far more complex. Why Hope is significant As India prepares for its ambitious human spaceflight roadmap, including the Gaganyaan mission, a space station by 2035 and a crewed lunar landing by 2040, the Hope analogue mission stands as a critical stepping stone. 'This is a rehearsal for the future,' said Narayanan. 'It is essential for our human space programme leading up to sending a human to the Moon.' Hope gives Isro a rare chance to test out life-support systems, observe how crew members work and respond in isolation, and fine-tune mission procedures, all in a Mars-like setting without ever leaving Earth. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But the mission goes beyond just testing equipment. It's also a strong statement of purpose. With Hope, India joins a small group of countries actively preparing for deep-space exploration through officially recognised analogue simulations, a clear signal that India is serious about becoming a major player in future interplanetary missions. With input from agencies