♦ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched India’s inaugural analog space mission in Leh, Ladakh on 1 November 2024. The mission, spearheaded by ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre, brings together partners from AAKA Space Studio, the University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and is supported by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council. 
♦ This mission aims to simulate interplanetary habitat conditions, helping scientists explore the feasibility of establishing a sustainable base station beyond Earth. 
♦ Ladakh’s extreme isolation, dry climate, and barren, high-altitude terrain make it ideal for simulating conditions similar to Mars and the Moon. The environment presents an opportunity for researchers to gather critical data that will support India’s Gaganyaan program and future missions.