India, NASA to study Ladakh region under Spaceward Bound programme

India and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) joined hands to explore the environment of Ladakh under NASA’s Spaceward Bound programme.

• Under the partnership, a team of scientists from NASA, the Mars society Australia and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow will undertake an expedition to Ladakh in August 2016.

During their 10-day expedition, the scientists will study the similarities of certain parts of the region’s topography and microbial life to the surroundings of Mars.