Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Proposes Habitat Concept for Human Life Beyond Earth

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has proposed the Bharatiya Habitable Expandable Extraterrestrial Habitat (BHEEM) as a concept for enabling humans to live beyond Earth in the future. After completing astronaut training in Russia and returning to India, Shukla worked on the concept at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. The proposed habitat is designed to provide astronauts with a safe haven against the extreme radiation and temperatures they could face on the Moon and Mars.

Shukla stressed that planning for human habitation beyond Earth must begin alongside preparations for spacecraft and missions. He said establishing settlements on the Moon and Mars would be challenging because of intense radiation and harsh environmental conditions, making adequate protection essential for astronauts. According to him, if humans are to establish permanent habitats beyond Earth in the coming decades, research and development of the required technologies must begin now.