Could this be what our home on the Moon or Mars looks like?

Could this egg-shaped structure be the future home of Indian astronauts in space?

The Hab-1 – short for Habitat-1 – is the first “analog mission” of the Indian space agency Isro. This involves simulating space conditions to prepare astronauts for real space missions. It was recently tested for three weeks in the high Himalayan mountains of Ladakh.

Space architect Aastha Kacha-Jhala of Gujarat-based firm Aaka told the BBC that these simulations help identify and fix problems that astronauts and equipment may face ahead of space missions.

Hab-1 is made of space-grade Teflon and insulated with industrial foam. It features a bed, a stowable tray that can be pulled out and used as a workstation, storage space for storing supplies and emergency kits, a kitchenette for warming up meals, etc. and a toilet. A simulation astronaut spent three weeks at the facility.

“Hab-1 was designed taking into account the fact that space on the Moon or Mars will be very limited,” says Ms. Kacha-Jhala. “The astronaut will also have very little water, so we designed a dry toilet. We have also put in place a system to properly dispose of waste and ensure that the habitat remains odor-free.”

It is currently in talks with Isro to build India’s first permanent simulation space facility in Ladakh.

The mission comes as India prepares to send its first astronauts into space.

Isro’s Gaganyaan mission plans to carry three astronauts into low-Earth orbit at an altitude of 400 km (248 miles) for three days. If everything goes according to plan, the mission will launch sometime next year. India also plans to build its first space station by 2035 and send a man to the moon by 2040.

NASA, the European Space Agency, Russia, China and other countries, as well as private companies with space programs, are conducting dozens of simulation missions, and two of the four Indian astronauts selected for the Gaganyaan mission are currently being trained at NASA.

“Once we have our own simulation mission, we will no longer depend on foreign space agencies to train our astronauts,” says Prof. Subrat Sharma, dean of research studies at the University of Ladakh, who worked on the project.

Ladakh, he told the BBC, was chosen for the experiment because “from a geographical perspective, its rocky, barren landscape and soil have similarities with the material and rocks on Mars and some parts of the lunar terrain, making it ideal for space exploration.” might.” “.

The soil samples collected during the mission will be tested by the university to see whether astronauts will be able to use locally sourced materials to build homes in space.

The Himalayan region on the border of India and China lies at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) and experiences extreme climatic conditions and thin air. In one day the temperature here can fluctuate from a maximum of 20 °C to a minimum of -18 °C.

It’s no comparison to Mars (where temperatures can drop below -153°C) or the Moon (where -250°C is the norm in some deep craters), but it’s still a test of human endurance. And as Prof. Sharma says, “Since you can’t go to space every time for testing, you need these facilities where space-like conditions can be created.”

Furthermore, he adds, Ladakh is a region of India with miles of barren land that “makes you feel like you’re alone on the planet.”

And that’s exactly what happened to the simulation astronaut who spent three weeks in the capsule in the ice-cold desert.

“I was isolated from the human environment. Every move I made was planned, when should I wake up, what should I do and when should I sleep? A camera monitored my every movement around the clock and transmitted data about my activities and health to the back office. “The 24-year-old, who did not want to be named, told me.

“The first few days,” he said, “were great, but then it felt like it was repeating itself and it started to bother me. It started to affect my daily performance. My sleep patterns were affected a little and my concentration decreased.”

The simulation astronaut wore biometric devices to monitor his sleep patterns, heart rate and stress levels. His blood and saliva were checked daily to see how he was doing.

Scientists say simulating psychological factors to see how they would affect people in space is one of the most important parts of the mission.

As space agencies around the world look to send astronauts to the moon and establish permanent bases there in the coming years, simulation missions are expected to play a critical role in research and training.

In April, a team of scientists and engineers in Oregon began testing to prepare NASA Robot dog – Lassie – walking on the surface of the moon. In July, four volunteers showed up after spending a year in an “analog” facility purpose-built in Texas Simulate life on Mars.

And according to The Economist magazine, NASA hopes to 3D print a base using only materials found on the lunar surface, while China and Russia are collaborating on their own plans.⁠

India does not want to be left behind. Prof. Sharma says once the data collected in Ladakh is analyzed, it will “help us develop medical technology to meet the needs of our astronauts when they encounter a problem in space.”

“We need to know how our bodies function on the moon, where days and nights are much longer than on Earth. Or in space, where there isn’t enough oxygen,” he says.

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter And Facebook.