'A 4-day drive from Delhi to Mars’: Why this cold desert in India is becoming a training ground for Martian experiments

Ladakh’s harsh and unique environment is now central to India’s analogue space research, replicating conditions on Mars and the Moon. With ISRO launching its first analogue mission in Leh and collaborations involving academic institutions, Ladakh could emerge as a global player in space simulation. Its high-altitude deserts, low oxygen levels, and extreme temperatures are driving cutting-edge research into astrobiology, habitat design, and sustainability technologies, with potential applications both in space exploration and on Earth.