Bengaluru: When the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) completed their high-altitude human behavior simulation near Leh on April 9, with much of the focus being on what it could reveal about the psychology of the crew. 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 investigated how small teams function under isolation, confinement, and stress in low-oxygen environments. Located at approximately 4,000 metres, the site offers conditions that approximate some of the physical and operational challenges of space missions. “Within a short planning window, we identified and secured a site near Leh and installed the core facilities required for the simulation. These included compact living modules designed to restrict movement and personal space, mirroring the constraints of a spacecraft or orbital station,” Protoplanet director Siddharth Pandey told TOI.To replicate mission conditions, the firm set up a multi-site layout: two separate camps that could not directly see each other, overseen by a central mission control. This allowed ISRO teams to practice remote coordination, a key requirement for future planetary missions where crews may work at a distance with limited real-time communication.The firm also enabled operational tasks that went beyond routine life. Participants simulated extra-vehicular activities and indoor procedures while dealing with communication delays and environmental stress.

To support this there was a basic life-support setup, including solar-powered systems with backup and logistics to sustain teams for several days in sub-zero temperatures. “Crew members ate space-analog food DRDO With freeze-dried rations, similar provisions used during the Project HOPE mission in September 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 accuracy and decision-making under pressure. The aim was to generate data on both physical and cognitive responses.Given the terrain, safety systems were built into the practice design. Emergency response arrangements, evacuation plans and coordination with local authorities and armed forces were established 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 is led by scientific objectives, such exercises depend on field execution in difficult environments. The Lehigh simulation also shows how private companies are being used to handle that layer – setting up controlled conditions on Earth so that space flight risks can be studied in advance.With the completion of the April exercise, the data collected is expected to be incorporated into future crew training and mission planning, especially for long duration and deep space scenarios where human behavior may be as important as the hardware.