Lunar Analog Missions
Advancing human space exploration through terrestrial simulation and rigorous scientific study.
05+ Years of Analog Experience. Multiple Self-Built Missions. One Ambitious Next Step.
From building our own analog habitats to conducting missions in some of India’s most extreme environments, AAKA Space has spent years learning what it takes to simulate life beyond Earth. LAM - Lunar Analog Mission brings that experience together into an immersive planetary mission programme where participants don’t simply learn about space - they live the mission. Crews inhabit a simulated lunar habitat, conduct EVAs, perform scientific experiments, operate mission systems, follow crew protocols, and make decisions under the constraints that define human exploration beyond Earth. For researchers, students, professionals, explorers, and space enthusiasts, LAM creates an opportunity to experience meaningful human spaceflight simulation without leaving Earth.
But LAM is designed to be more than a mission - a first step towards India's Own Permanent Analog Establishment.
Founder's Note
Mission Directorate"As India ascends to the vanguard of global space exploration, the horizon of our ambitions has never been clearer. With the Gaganyaan program establishing our human spaceflight capabilities and the vision of the Bhartiya Antariksh Station cementing our orbital presence, our gaze is now firmly fixed on the Moon."
"To actively support India's future lunar aims, we must bridge the gap between theoretical research and operational reality. This International Pilot Analog Participation initiative is brought forward to enable the brightest minds—both in India and around the world—to utilize a high-fidelity Simulation Testbed."
"At AAKA Space Studio, our mandate is to provide a rigorous, terrestrial crucible where researchers and analog astronauts can validate critical surface technologies, test human physiological resilience, and refine operational protocols, laying the pragmatic groundwork for humanity's sustained presence on the lunar surface."
Co-Founder's Note
Venture & Strategy"Commercial space exploration and deep-technology infrastructure are undergoing a historic transformation. Having invested up to 4.8 million USD till date into early-stage space startups, frontier engineering, and high-impact aerospace ventures, my focus is on catalyzing the private ecosystem that makes sustained off-world exploration economically viable and operationally scalable."
"Analog missions represent an indispensable pillar of this new space economy. Before multimillion-dollar hardware is launched into orbit or deployed to the lunar surface, it requires ruthless validation in terrestrial extreme environments. By investing in and co-founding AAKA Space Studio's Lunar Analog Mission, we are establishing India's sovereign private testbed for planetary exploration."
"Our capital and strategic commitment are aimed at democratizing access to mission-grade simulation infrastructure for startups, academic researchers, and international space agencies alike. We are building the foundational bedrock that will accelerate India's commercial space sector from nascent innovation into global leadership."
Mission Operations & Programme Note
Design & Simulation"Every simulation we design at AAKA Space Studio is driven by a singular philosophy: authenticity in operations. Space is unforgiving, and an analog mission must capture the operational friction, psychological isolation, and discipline required to survive and thrive beyond Earth."
"As the mission programme maker and designer, my mandate is to architect the holistic simulation environment—from the spatial layout and workflow ergonomics of the LUNAM-1 habitat to the structured multi-track training curricula, EVA sortie planning, communication latency protocols, and crew command structures. We ensure that participants are not merely observers; they are an active crew navigating real-time mission contingencies."
"Our continuous journey of iteration across multiple self-built missions has forged a deep operational blueprint. We are thrilled to welcome researchers, professionals, and explorers into a programme crafted to test human endurance and mission execution to the highest possible standard."
Systems Engineering Note
Hardware & Software"Developing technology at AAKA Space Studio has been an exhilarating engineering journey. Simulating planetary operations demands robust, interconnected systems that work without failure. My role as Systems Engineering Lead is to build that nervous system—designing and integrating custom sensor arrays, embedded habitat modules, telemetry hardware, and the software stacks that keep mission control and the crew synchronized."
"From monitoring environmental parameters inside the habitat to tracking field data during EVA traverses and managing communication latency channels, we develop hardware and software tailored specifically for analog mission workflows. Every module is crafted to be reliable, modular, and field-resilient in India's most demanding terrain."
"We at AAKA Space Studio, along with our leadership, share an unrelenting ambition: we aim to develop the highest level of work that we can have. We are thrilled to work at AAKA, building the physical and digital tools that empower our crews to conduct real science and push the boundaries of terrestrial space exploration."
Our Analog Legacy & Foundation
India is entering a new chapter in human spaceflight. LAM is our contribution to making that chapter more inclusive.
Built upon years of analog mission experience, LAM transforms extreme terrestrial environments into platforms for human spaceflight research, crew training, technology validation, and exploration. Space remains an extraordinarily costly and exclusive frontier. Analog missions provide a way to bring meaningful spaceflight experiences and research opportunities closer to Earth - making them accessible not only to professional astronauts, but to the global community of researchers, innovators, students, and explorers. From India to the world, LAM is built around one fundamental belief: Space should be experienced, explored, and advanced by all.
Enabling Space for All
Standards & Safety Commitment
"As part of our commitment to safety, collaboration, trust, and integrity, we're actively working on integrating the International Guidelines and Standards for Space Analogs into our practices."
View IGSA RecognitionWhat We Provide
Experiential & Tourism
Designed for space enthusiasts and aspiring astronauts, this track offers a fully immersive simulation. Participants undergo rigorous astronaut-style training, learn mission protocols, conduct simulated Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) in analog suits, and experience the physical and psychological realities of living in a confined, high-fidelity habitat. It is the closest experience to planetary exploration available on Earth.
Research & Academia
Tailored for scientists, engineers, and academic institutions, this track serves as a dedicated proving ground. Crews can validate critical surface technologies, test robotics and rovers, and conduct astrobiology, geology, and human factors research. Operating under strict mission constraints and communication delays, it provides a scientifically rigorous environment to gather empirical data for future spaceflight.
Artistic Participation
Built for storytellers, journalists, photographers, and filmmakers, this track invites creatives to document the human experience of space exploration. Participants embed with the crew to capture the isolation, camaraderie, and scientific breakthroughs of the mission, translating the complex realities of analog research into compelling narratives that inspire the global community.