Why Ladakh is chosen as research site for India's Mars and Moon missions? All you need to know

Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have chosen Ladakh as the ideal location for the country’s first Mars and Moon analogue research station.

The proposal for this research station comes from a team of experts, including Binita Phartiyal from BSIP, Aloke Kumar from IISc, and Shubhanshu Shukla, one of India’s Gaganyaan astronauts.

Ladakh’s rocky terrain, cold and arid desert landscape, and geomorphological similarities to early Mars and the Moon make it a prime candidate for simulating extra-terrestrial conditions. “An analogue research station allows us to plan and practice activities meant for the Moon and Mars,” Aloke Kumar explained to The Times of India. “For instance, we can build astronaut habitats and observe how microbes and other organisms respond to these extreme environments.”

The proposed site in Ladakh offers an unparalleled natural laboratory for testing space equipment, training personnel, and conducting scientific studies. Phartiyal highlighted the region’s geochemical, geomorphological, and astrobiological fidelity to Mars and the Moon, making it an ideal setting for various research activities.