BENGALURU: In a breakthrough for space construction research , an indigenously designed and 3D-printed Martian Regolith (soil) Radiation Shield using Mars simulant materials has been tested in the recently-concluded two-week analogue simulation mission that ended last week in Gujarat.
The structure, printed entirely with Indian-sourced materials, was tested in the world’s largest analogue mission, which marked India’s debut in a global simulation of extraterrestrial habitats. Developed by Ahmedabad-based Aaka Space and its collaborator MiCoB, this is pegged to be Asia’s first Martian Regolith Radiation Shield using Mars simulant materials.
Once assembled on-site with regolith simulant filler compounds, the dome served both as a load-bearing structure and a radiation barrier. It hosted microgreen varieties to study how radiation, temperature, and other conditions affect plant growth. Results will later be compared with laboratory-grown samples to evaluate the shield’s protective capacity.
“Printing large-scale regolith structures is a challenge in itself, but combining in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) materials with precise 3D-printing technology has allowed us to push the boundaries of space construction here in India,” said MiCoB founder Shashank Shekar.
Aaka Space founder Aastha Jhala said that testing the shield in the world’s biggest analogue mission gave the team an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate its performance in a controlled, realistic environment.
“This is a first for India and Asia, and it sets the stage for autonomous habitat construction on Mars. By leveraging local resources and technology, the AAKA-MiCoB collaboration positions India as a growing contributor to global research in space infrastructure,” she added.
Aside from this, IIT-Madras tested its rover built for Mars in an experiment called HMI (Human–Machine Interaction extravehicular activity). The IIT-M rover, central to one of thirteen experiments examining facets of human survival and performance in isolation, evaluated astronaut–rover teamwork during simulated extravehicular activities.
“Using the rover for sample collection and transport, the study compared efficiency, workload, and safety against manual carrying. Results support the design of robust, simple astronaut–robot systems for planetary exploration,” Aaka Space said.
The other 12 experiments are “Emotional Response Analysis” from the University of East Anglia, which tracked how confinement shapes mood, while “INDEX” by Sapienza University of Rome studied reasoning under stress.
Germany’s “Marscraft” observed how people adapt and redefine roles in close quarters, while University College London tested “SpaceSeed”—a study on plant care as a morale booster. Other experiments range from “Salutogenesis in Space”—focused on resilience—to the Kinsey Institute’s study on mental health and intimacy.
Indian teams added unique strengths: A Coonoor govt college’s Tardigrade probed life’s limits, Institute of Astronomy, Space & Earth Science’s (Kolkata) “Plant Shock” experiment explored space farming and Ahmedabad’s Nirma University led twin studies on microbes and drug crystallisation.
The structure, printed entirely with Indian-sourced materials, was tested in the world’s largest analogue mission, which marked India’s debut in a global simulation of extraterrestrial habitats. Developed by Ahmedabad-based Aaka Space and its collaborator MiCoB, this is pegged to be Asia’s first Martian Regolith Radiation Shield using Mars simulant materials.
Once assembled on-site with regolith simulant filler compounds, the dome served both as a load-bearing structure and a radiation barrier. It hosted microgreen varieties to study how radiation, temperature, and other conditions affect plant growth. Results will later be compared with laboratory-grown samples to evaluate the shield’s protective capacity.
“Printing large-scale regolith structures is a challenge in itself, but combining in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) materials with precise 3D-printing technology has allowed us to push the boundaries of space construction here in India,” said MiCoB founder Shashank Shekar.
Aaka Space founder Aastha Jhala said that testing the shield in the world’s biggest analogue mission gave the team an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate its performance in a controlled, realistic environment.
“This is a first for India and Asia, and it sets the stage for autonomous habitat construction on Mars. By leveraging local resources and technology, the AAKA-MiCoB collaboration positions India as a growing contributor to global research in space infrastructure,” she added.
Aside from this, IIT-Madras tested its rover built for Mars in an experiment called HMI (Human–Machine Interaction extravehicular activity). The IIT-M rover, central to one of thirteen experiments examining facets of human survival and performance in isolation, evaluated astronaut–rover teamwork during simulated extravehicular activities.
“Using the rover for sample collection and transport, the study compared efficiency, workload, and safety against manual carrying. Results support the design of robust, simple astronaut–robot systems for planetary exploration,” Aaka Space said.
The other 12 experiments are “Emotional Response Analysis” from the University of East Anglia, which tracked how confinement shapes mood, while “INDEX” by Sapienza University of Rome studied reasoning under stress.
Germany’s “Marscraft” observed how people adapt and redefine roles in close quarters, while University College London tested “SpaceSeed”—a study on plant care as a morale booster. Other experiments range from “Salutogenesis in Space”—focused on resilience—to the Kinsey Institute’s study on mental health and intimacy.
Indian teams added unique strengths: A Coonoor govt college’s Tardigrade probed life’s limits, Institute of Astronomy, Space & Earth Science’s (Kolkata) “Plant Shock” experiment explored space farming and Ahmedabad’s Nirma University led twin studies on microbes and drug crystallisation.
You may also like
India to become world's 3rd largest economy soon: FM Sitharaman
'10% control the Army': Rahul Gandhi's caste claim at Bihar rally, says 90% Indians 'nowhere to be found'
Punjab bypoll: Drugs, liquor, freebies valued at Rs 57.47 crore seized
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie need to 'distance themselves' from Andrew and Sarah
Psychologist who's read 500 books shares 10 tips to be happier
