Aditya Pandya

From 1-8 February 2026, 17-year-old Aditya Pandya completed an eight-day lunar simulation mission in Dholavira, Gujarat, becoming India’s youngest analogue astronaut.

Analogue astronauts simulate space missions on Earth to test systems, survival techniques and human behaviour in extreme environments.
Pandya lived in isolation inside a container-based, Moon-like habitat with limited resources and controlled communication.
The mission tested endurance, sustainability, life-support systems and psychological resilience under confined conditions.
He conducted scientific experiments and helped design and test habitat systems, contributing to the research process.
The desert terrain of Dholavira was chosen for its harsh, isolated conditions that resemble extraterrestrial environments.
Preparation included technical and psychological training, along with learning emergency procedures and system monitoring.