SPACEWARD BOUND INDIA 2025
PROGRAMME DETAILS
Protoplanet and University of Ladakh are jointly organizing the Spaceward Bound India programme along with a 1-day technical workshop on ‘Terrestrial Analogues and Space Missions’
Spaceward Bound India 2025: July 18-26 2025.
Workshop at University of Ladakh: July 25 2025.
SPACEWARD BOUND INDIA 2025
Protoplanet and University of Ladakh are jointly organizing the Spaceward Bound India programme along with a 1-day technical workshop on ‘Terrestrial Analogues and Space Missions’
Spaceward Bound India 2025: July 18-26 2025.
Workshop at University of Ladakh: July 25 2025.
Expected outcomes from the program:
01
Science:
Characterization of Ladakh as a high-value scientific analogue to support upcoming astrobiology/space biology/ planetary science missions.
02
Technology Testing:
Field-testing, maturation and integration of technologies for robotic and human space missions.
03
Operations Testing:
Testing humans-in-loop scenarios for robotic and human missions.
04
Infrastructure Testing:
Supporting explorers in the field, testing habitat and field-based infrastructure
05
Industry-Academia:
Collaboration to develop training environments and support researchers.
Meet the Team
Agata Kołodziejczyk
Space Technology Centre AGH
Head of Bioastronautics Research
Steven Hobbs
Mars Society Australia
Researcher
Parag Vaishampayan
NASA Ames
Scientist
Thomas Henry Windsor
MSA
Research Student
Yolandi Schoeman
University of the Free State
Senior Lecturer: Ecological Engineering
Clare Fletcher
University of New South Wales Australian Centre for Astrobiology
PhD Candidate
Anshuman Bhardwaj
University of Aberdeen
Senior Lecturer
Thasshwin Mathanlal
University of Aberdeen
Research Fellow
Piotr Skonieczka
Space Technology Centre AGH University of Kraków
Researcher
Miracle Israel Nazarious
University of Aberdeen
Research Fellow
Aleksander Kopyto
AGH University of Science and Technology
Student
Anu R I
University of Malta
Research Fellow
Sudha Rajamani
Dept. of Biology, IISER Pune
Professor
Martin Van Kranendonk
Curtin University
Head of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University
Nikhil Keshav
Luleå University of Technology
PhD Student
Nagarajan Ganapathy
IIT HyderabadAssistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad
Prem Sundaramoorthy
TU Delft, Netherlands
Associate Professor, Space Engineering, TU Delft
Ines Uriol Balbin
TU Delft, Netherlands
Subrat Sharma
University of Ladakh
Dean of Research, University of Ladakh
Annalea Beattie
Mars Society Australia
Researcher/Coordination Team
Jonathan Clarke
Mars Society Australia
Researcher/Coordination Team
Krishna Bulchandani
Multiplanet University
Graduate Research fellow
A Unique Expedition awaits
Meet our team
FOR MORE INFO
Please go through the provided information before proceeding to registering. In case of any queries, please reach out to siddharth.pandey@protoplanet.co
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Expedition Itinerary
Day 1 - 17 July Thursday,
International participants arrive to New Delhi for overnight halt
Day 2 - 18 July Friday, stay at Saboo
Morning Flight to Leh/Saboo (45 mins), arrive, rest and acclimatize at hotel
Day 3 - 19 July Saturday, stay at Saboo
Rest and acclimatize at hotel, meet and greet, registrations, forms, equipment check, health check. Optional stroll
Day 4 - 20 July Sunday, stay at Saboo.
Rest and acclimatize, optional trip to Indus-Zanskar confluence, back by 1300 hrs, rest and summary talks from coordinators, field instructions, planning, overview of Ladakh geology, environment, climate, recent research work
Day 5 - 21 July Monday, stay at Tso Kar
Leave after breakfast at 0800 hrs for Tso Kar, stopping in Upshi and Taglang La pass , aim to reach by 1300 hrs , rest and acclimatize, field explanation along the way with stops at Trishul point, Upshi, Taglang La to explain Ladakh's geology and similarity to Mars, night-time astrophotography
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Day 6 - 22 July Tuesday, full day at Tso Kar/ Puga
Rest and acclimatize, Geology overview, Field science (sample collection and analysis), Rover trials, Habitat system tests, Evening talks and discussions
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Day 7 - 23 July Wednesday, Full day at Tso Kar/ Puga,
Geology overview, Field science (sample collection and analysis), Rover trials, Habitat system tests, Evening talks and discussions
Day 8 - 24 July Thursday, stay at Saboo
Finish by 1100 hrs, lunch enroute, drive back to Leh, reach by 1600 hrs, check into hotel, rest, prepare for workshop
Day 9 - 25 July Friday, stay at Saboo
1-day Technical workshop at Ladakh University 1000-1600 hrs, return, rest, team dinner with invited guest
Day 10 - 26 July Saturday, stay at Saboo
Outreach, sightseeing, packing, creative activities, conclusion ceremony, program close out
Day 11 - 27 July Sunday, stay in New Delhi
Check out from rooms, flights to New Delhi, stay there overnight OR fly on same night home
Day 12 - 28 July Monday
Flight back home
MISSION PARTNERS
Day | Date | Programme | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | 30-Jul | B2W crew arrives, acclimatise and rest | Saboo |
Day 2 | 31-Jul | Acclimatize, choose to participate in a 17th century Ladakhi eco-conscious pottery activity, evening chats and preparation to embark for 'Mars' | Likir, Saboo |
Day 3 | 1-Aug | Drive to Tso Kar, with enroute stops to engage in scientific discussions, cultural observations, reach Tso Kar, a high altitude glacial lake and site for the upcoming Mars station | Saboo to Tso Kar |
Day 4 | 2-Aug | Walk with a scientist on Mars, learn how to explore an alien planet, help the team characterize the site to aid the design and commissioning of the upcoming Mars station. Night stargazing and discussions on dark sky conservation, life on Mars | Tso Kar |
Day 5 | 3-Aug | Visit to Puga hot springs, learn about how life might have started on Earth and possibly on Mars. | Puga, Tso Kar |
Day 6 | 4-Aug | Engage with Tso Kar community, learn how art and culture permeates in extreme environments on Earth, drive back to Leh | Tso Kar to Leh |
Day 7 | 5-Aug | Relax, reflect,your last day as part of the crew, group discussions | Leh |
Day 8 | 6-Aug | Crew flies home | Leh |