An analogue research station is a place that has physical similarities to a planet or planetary body or extreme space environments.
- Presently, there are 33 analogue research stations with none being in Indian sub-continent.
- These include BIOS-3 (Russia), HERA and Biosphere 2 (USA), Mars One (Netherlands) and D-MARS (Israel).
Need for Analogue sites
- Field testing for new technologies, robotic equipment, vehicles, power generation, infrastructure etc. which are crucial for prolonged space missions.
- Study or simulate human habitats in such environment and associated behavioural effects – such as isolation and confinement, team dynamics, menu fatigue etc.
- Simulation tests are essential as these are meant to be stand-alone units capable of handling all contingencies.
Why is Ladakh ideal as Martian/Lunar Analogue?
- Geomorphological similarities to an early Mars and Moon:
- Dry, cold, arid desert, with abundant rocky ground.
- Vast flat land devoid of vegetation, dunes, and drainage networks.
- Segregated ground ice and permafrost, and rock glaciers.
- Geochemical similarities to Martian surface: Volcanic rocks, saline lakes, and hydrothermal systems.
- Exobiological similarities: Permafrost (evidence of water in past), increased UV and cosmic radiation flux, reduced atmospheric pressure, hot springs (rich in boron) and sufficient isolation.
Ladakh as Astronomical Hub of India
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