Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration (HOPE) is a specially designed Habitat Module for crew living and a Utility Module for operations and support systems which are interconnected for seamless workflow.
The HOPE station set up by ISRO aims to simulate space-like conditions on Earth to aid research for future interplanetary missions.
About HOPE Mission
- Led by: ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), with industry partners and top Indian institutions.
- Objectives
- Simulates extraterrestrial environments like the Moon and Mars.
- Enables testing of human survival, health protocols, and equipment in space-like environments.
- Studies to be conducted:
- Epigenetics, genomics, physiology, psychology.
- Sample collection and microbial analysis techniques.
- Validation of health monitoring and planetary surface operation protocols.
- Why Tso Kar Valley was chosen?
- For Mars-like conditions: High UV radiation, Low atmospheric pressure, Extreme cold and Saline permafrost.
- Supports both technological tests and astrobiology research.
- Part of broader analog missions trend globally, aimed at preparing for long-term extra-terrestrial human missions.
- Other similar research stations across the World: Mars Desert Research Station of the US, Flashline Mars Arctic Station of Canada, and BIOS-3 of Russia
About Indian Human Spaceflight Programme, Gaganyaan
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