Why in the News?
India has taken a significant step towards interplanetary human missions with the launch of the Human Outer Planet Exploration (HOPE) analogue station at Tso Kar, Ladakh.
About HOPE (Human Outer Planet Exploration):
- Purpose: Simulates Moon and Mars conditions to prepare for future human missions.
- Developer: Built by Protoplanet (Bengaluru); partially funded by ISRO.
- Location: Tso Kar, Ladakh (14,500 ft) — chosen for its lunar/Martian-like terrain.
- Features: Enables isolation research, tech trials, and crew training; 1 of 33 such stations globally.
- First Mission (2025): Two scientists (Rahul Mogalapalli, Yaman Akot) conducted a 10-day simulation focusing on resilience and mental health.
- Significance:
- Boosts India’s human spaceflight readiness.
- Supports goals like Bharatiya Antariksh Station (2035) and Moon mission (2040).
India’s Astronomical Assets in Ladakh:
- Location: Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), at Mt. Saraswati (4,500 m), Hanle; run by Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
- Key Instruments:
- Himalayan Chandra Telescope (optical/infrared)
- HAGAR (gamma rays, with Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)
- MACE (Cherenkov telescope, with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre)
- Stargazing hubs: Hanle, Nubra Valley, Pangong, Tso Moriri.
- Advantages & Recognition:
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- 270+ clear nights; low humidity; dark skies.
- Declared India’s 1st Dark-Sky Reserve (2022) to curb light pollution.
| [UPSC 2012] The world’s highest ground based telescopic observatory is located in
Options: (a) Colombia (b) India* (c) Nepal (d) Switzerland |
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