In cold desert of Leh, Gaganyatris test their stress quotient for space mission; Isro chief praises Artemis Mission II

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: At a time when Nasa’s Artemis II spacecraft is heading towards the Moon with four astronauts, India's astronaut-designates or Gaganyatris are rehearsing for their own space mission (Gaganyaan) by being part of a high-altitude analogue mission in the cold desert of Ladakh, where oxygen is scarce and isolation real.

Isro, in collaboration with IAF’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), has launched Mission MITRA, a first-of-its-kind team behavioural study designed to examine the physiological, psychological and operational characteristics of Gaganyatris and ground teams functioning in a high-altitude environment (approx. 3,500 metres above sea level). “The environmental conditions of hypoxia, low temperature and isolation act as a natural analogue for spaceflight operations,” the space agency said.

The one-week study is targeted to generate vital understanding on the interoperability between space crew and ground control teams and effectiveness of decision-making under environmental and operational stress. “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,” Isro said.

The MITRA mission was inaugurated on April 2 virtually from Bengaluru by Isro chairman V Narayanan in presence of IAF’s Air Commodore N K Tripathy, director of IAM. “The scientific data generated on crew performance and human factors will contribute directly to Gaganyaan programme and future long-duration missions,” Isro said.

Meanwhile, the Isro chairman on Saturday praised Artemis II mission and hoped it will be “grandly successful”. On the launch, he said, “I also had the privilege to watch the launch, which lifted off on 2nd April. In fact, during our last visit to the Canadian Space Agency, the vehicle was under construction. We had the opportunity to see the first stage.”