17-Year-Old Aditya Pandya Becomes India’s Youngest Analog Astronaut

Category : Science and Tech Published on: February 12 2026

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Seventeen-year-old Aditya Pandya has become India’s youngest male analog astronaut after completing a Moon-simulation mission by AAKA Space Studio in Dholavira, Gujarat. The mission recreated lunar isolation and autonomous living conditions inside a habitat for nine days. A four-member crew lived in strict confinement to study human endurance, system reliability, and space-habitat operations.
Aditya also led the hardware and habitat intelligence systems, helping build environmental sensors and biometric monitoring tools. The mission used digital twin technology for real-time monitoring and post-mission analysis. It marks a significant step in India’s growing analog space research ecosystem. Such missions prepare astronauts and technologies for future planetary exploration.