Kamal Ghorui
BENGALURU: When the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) wrapped up its high-altitude human behaviour simulation near Leh on April 9, much of the focus was on what it could reveal about crew psychology. Less visible was the role played by a Bengaluru-based firm that enabled the exercise on the ground.Protoplanet was tasked with building and operating the infrastructure for Mission MITRA (Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Response Assessment), which examined how small teams function under isolation, confinement and stress in a low-oxygen environment. The site, located at roughly 4,000 metres, offered conditions that approximate some of the physiological and operational challenges of space missions. “Within a short planning window, we identified and secured a site near Leh and set up the core facilities needed for the simulation. These included compact living modules designed to restrict movement and personal space, mirroring the constraints of a spacecraft or orbital station,” Siddharth Pandey, director, Protoplanet, told TOI.To replicate mission conditions, the firm established a multi-site layout: two separate camps that could not see each other directly, overseen by a central mission control. This allowed Isro teams to practise remote coordination, a key requirement for future planetary missions where crews may operate at a distance with limited real-time communication.The firm also enabled operational tasks that went beyond routine living. Participants carried out simulated extra-vehicular activities and indoor procedures while dealing with communication delays and environmental stress.
Supporting this was a basic life-support setup, including solar-powered systems with backups, and logistics to sustain teams for several days in sub-zero temperatures. “Crew members ate space-analogue food supplied by DRDO alongside freeze-dried rations, the same provisions used during the Project HOPE mission in Sept 2025,” Pandey said.Instrumentation formed another part of the support. Wearable devices and on-site sensors were used to track health indicators and measure performance, including how participants handled tasks requiring precision and decision-making under strain. The aim was to generate data on both physical and cognitive responses.Given the terrain, safety systems were built into the exercise design. Emergency response arrangements, evacuation plans and coordination with local authorities and the armed forces were put in place before the simulation began.The Ladakh study is part of Isro’s broader effort to prepare for human spaceflight missions, including Gaganyaan. While the agency leads the scientific objectives, exercises such as this depend on field execution in difficult environments. The Leh simulation also shows how private firms are being used to handle that layer — setting up controlled conditions on Earth so that spaceflight risks can be studied in advance.With the April exercise completed, the data collected is expected to feed into future crew training and mission planning, particularly for long-duration and deep-space scenarios where human behaviour can be as critical as hardware.
