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 "gaganyatris (astronauts)" and ground teams functioning in a high-altitude environment.
The scientific data generated on crew performance and human factors will contribute directly 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 metres in Leh, simulating the environmental conditions of hypoxia, low temperature and isolation as a natural analog for spaceflight operations.
"This...