New Delhi, April 4 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch of a mission in Ladakh to examine the physiological, psychological, and operational dynamics of "astronauts" and ground teams operating in a high-altitude environment.
The scientific data generated on crew performance and human factors will directly contribute to the Gaganyaan programme and future long-duration missions.
Known as the Mission MITRA (Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Response Assessment), the study will be conducted until April 9 at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters in Leh, simulating the environmental conditions of hypoxia, low temperature, and isolation as a natural analog for spaceflight operations.
"This study is aimed at generating vital understanding on the team interoperability between crew (astronauts) and ground control teams, and the effectiveness of decision-making under environmental and operational stress," ISRO said in a statement on Friday.
The ISRO and the IAF-Institute of Aerospace Medicine have designed the mission, and Bengaluru-based startup Protoplanet is responsible for facility management and statutory protocols.
"Crew safety and performance are the most critical elements of all human spaceflight missions. The ability of the crew to communicate effectively, adapt to stress, maintain psychological resilience, and support one another determines the success and safety of any mission," the statement said.
"Analog missions conducted under controlled yet realistic conditions are used to understand how crew performs under challenging conditions," it added.