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**Summary:**

Bengaluru-based Protoplanet, with funding and guidance from ISRO, has launched a human outer planet exploration (HOPE) research station in Tso Kar, Ladakh. This station, designed to simulate the environments of the Moon and Mars, will host 10-day isolation missions for selected “crew” to study the physiological and psychological effects of deep space conditions. The project aims to contribute to India’s ambitious space program, which includes a planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and a manned Moon mission by 2040, and aligns with global efforts like NASA’s potential Mars mission in the 2030s. The first experiment will see scientists Rahul Mogalapalli and Yaman Akot conduct research within the station.

**News Article:**

**Indian Company Launches Moon and Mars Simulation Station in Ladakh**

**NEW DELHI, July 31, 2025** – Protoplanet, a Bengaluru-based space science company, has inaugurated its Human Outer Planet Exploration (HOPE) research station in Tso Kar, Ladakh, marking a significant step forward in India’s space exploration ambitions. The high-altitude, cold desert environment of Tso Kar closely mimics the conditions found on the Moon and Mars, making it an ideal location to study the challenges of long-duration space missions.

Funded in part by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), HOPE will serve as a simulated space habitat where selected individuals will undergo 10-day isolation missions. The research will focus on assessing human adaptability and resilience under deep-space-like conditions, providing crucial data for developing protocols and technologies for sustained human presence beyond Earth.

“The insights gained from these studies will be instrumental in developing robust protocols and technologies for sustained human presence beyond Earth,” Protoplanet Director, Siddharth Pandey, told The Hindu.

The first experiment, commencing August 1st, will involve scientists Rahul Mogalapalli and Yaman Akot conducting physiological, psychological, and epigenetic research within the station.

HOPE joins a global network of similar research facilities like the Mars Desert Station in the United States, contributing to the international effort to prepare for manned missions to the Moon and Mars. The launch aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision for India to have its own space station by 2035 and a manned lunar mission by 2040, complementing NASA’s potential Mars mission in the 2030s.

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