Protoplanet and ISRO's HSFC have partnered to advance space habitat design and research. A key initiative is Spaceward Bound India 2025, a 12-day expedition to Ladakh. This program will leverage Ladakh's unique terrain for analogue studies, focusing on planetary science, robotics, and human spaceflight, while promoting site conservation and public engagement.

Newsroom

NEW DELHI: SatCom Industry Association-India (SIA-India) has signed a pact with Protoplanet, a training platform focused on climate and space exploration, to foster innovation and research at universities and institutes in areas such as astrobiology, planetary sciences, microgravity, and climate studies.

A not-for-profit association, SIA-India provides leadership on policy, regulatory, standards, and spectrum issues affecting the space and satellite industry.

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Read the whole article here.

SIA-India, a not-for-profit association representing the space industry, has partnered with Protoplanet, a Bengaluru-based organisation focused on space and climate research, to promote astrobiology, planetary sciences, microgravity and climate studies across universities and research institutes in India. The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference (IPSEC) 2024, held in Western Australia.

BUSINESSWORLD

Read the whole article here.

In the cold, thin air of Ladakh, where ancient monasteries dot the landscape and prayer flags flutter against snow-capped peaks, scientists see something entirely different: Mars and Moon. And, a golden opportunity India’s yet to tap in on. TOI’s Chethan Kumar explores how and why Ladakh is best-suited for analogue missions that India should invest in.Ladakh’s extreme Himalayan desert region, situated at elevations between 3,500m to 5,700m, serves as a natural laboratory mimicking Mars and lunar conditions. Researchers from 18 global institutions have identified the area's potential for understanding extraterrestrial environments, highlighting its unique characteristics like 40% sea-level oxygen and temperature variations from 15°C to -10°C. Recently, India has taken initial steps in leveraging this environment. On November 1st, Isro announced the first analogue space mission in Leh, collaborating with Aaka Space Studio, University of Ladakh, and IIT Bombay. Bengaluru-based Protoplanet has also initiated discussions with Isro’s Human Spaceflight Centre for collaborative research in habitat design, microgravity, and astrobiology. While these missions represent early progress, many scientists believe India should have invested in analogue research much earlier, especially with Isro’s ambitious space exploration goals by 2035-2040.

In the Himalayas, Scientists find a slice of Mars on Earth

Read the whole article here.

Newsroom

LinkedIn

Instagram