What Protoplanet does

Protoplanet Private Limited is a Bengaluru-headquartered, India-incorporated space research and training company that operates Mars-analogue research infrastructure and field study programs. The company's core offering combines a proprietary Mars-analogue habitat — HOPE (Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration) in Ladakh's Tso Kar valley, featuring an 8-metre crew habitat module and 5-metre utility module — with immersive expedition programs (Spaceward Bound India, Between Two Worlds) priced at INR 119,000 per participant for limited 12-person cohorts. Underlying capability is delivered through the Protoplanet Expert Network (PEN) of 30+ international space and climate scientists, with the company holding Registered Space Tutor status with ISRO.

The business model is multi-stream: one-time expedition fees from individual researchers and aspirational participants; professional services revenue from space research consulting engagements; and a University Space Training Programme that sells customized curricula, mentorship, and career guidance to academic institutions. Pricing for institutional engagements is quote-based with multi-year contract potential. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, leveraging flagship expeditions, ISRO/NASA/Mars Society Australia partnerships, and earned media in major Indian publications. Additional product lines include Protoplanet Studio (science communication/content), the SEED Experiment 2025 (microgravity plant biology research on NASA ISS Crew-11), and leadership/management training for mission planning.

The company serves universities and research institutions, government space agencies (ISRO HSFC), individual scientists and students, and creative/media organizations. No external funding rounds have been disclosed, the company is founder-led by Dr. Siddharth Pandey, and operations center on a small core team of approximately nine members coordinating a much broader expert network and field operations in Ladakh.

Name

Protoplanet

Legal name

Protoplanet Private Ltd.

Website

https://protoplanet.co

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Protoplanet is a Bengaluru-based space research and training company operating a Mars-analogue habitat in Ladakh and running expert-led expedition, consulting, and university training programs for ISRO, researchers, and aspiring space professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Research and Training Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

Keywords

• Space exploration training
• Analogue field research
• Mars analogue missions
• Space research consulting
• Planetary science education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kormangala

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Expedition and Training Programs: Revenue from selling expedition programs including Spaceward Bound India and Between Two Worlds expeditions. Participants pay registration fees for immersive Mars-analogue training experiences in Ladakh.
2. Space Research Consulting: Insight-driven consulting services for organizations led by 30+ space experts with 500+ years of collective experience, focusing on Microgravity, Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Space Exploration Technologies.
3. University Space Training Programme: Mentorship, career guidance and customized engaging curricula helping Universities and Colleges build long-term sustainable Space Programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Protoplanet is a space research and training company that runs paid analogue field expeditions (such as Spaceward Bound India and Between Two Worlds) in Mars-analogue terrain in Ladakh, delivers customised university space training programmes, and provides insight-driven space research consulting. It also operates the proprietary HOPE (Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration) habitat in Tso Kar valley as India's first Mars training station, coordinates the Protoplanet Expert Network of 30+ international scientists, and runs the Protoplanet Studio for science-powered storytelling.

Product overview

Protoplanet is a purpose-driven training and immersive platform focused on Climate and Space Exploration, registered in Bengaluru, India. The offering is structured as a portfolio of interconnected services and branded programs. Core service offerings include Space Research Consulting (led by 30+ experts), University Space Training Programme, Analogue and Field Studies Expertise (20+ years of experience), Access to Space Research Facilities, Leadership and Management Lessons, Crafting Cosmic Narratives (science communication), and Exploring the Frontiers of Earth and Beyond (guided expeditions). Supporting sub-brands include: Protoplanet Expert Network (PEN) - a network of international experts in astrobiology, planetary sciences, and space engineering; Protoplanet Studio - creative division for science-powered content; HOPE - Mars-analogue research habitat in Ladakh; SEED Experiment 2025 - microgravity seed research; Spaceward Bound India 2025 - 12-day analogue research expedition; and Between Two Worlds - Mars-inspired Ladakh expedition. The portfolio is unified by the mission to build capacity in space exploration while fostering a vibrant space ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Protoplanet Studio: A division that unites artists, writers, musicians and storytellers to co-create content, powered by science.

Products and services

• Space Research Consulting

Quantifiable outcome

• Spaceward Bound India 2025 integrates planetary science, robotic and human spaceflight communities with focus on site conservation and public engagement
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ISRO is the primary government partner for Protoplanet's space exploration initiatives. The collaboration includes the HOPE (Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration) project in Ladakh, habitat design research, and microgravity studies supporting India's crewed Moon mission preparations.
• ISRO Human Spaceflight Centre (HSFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration with ISRO's Human Spaceflight Centre for research in habitat design, microgravity, and astrobiology. A key initiative is Spaceward Bound India 2025, a 12-day expedition leveraging Ladakh's unique terrain for analogue studies.
• Ladakh GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Government partner enabling the HOPE Mars-analogue facility and Spaceward Bound India 2025 programs in Ladakh, providing necessary permits and institutional support for operations in protected high-altitude regions.
• Mars Society AustraliaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Key international partner for Mars-analogue research and training. Mars Society Australia President Dr. Jonathan Clarke serves as mentor through Protoplanet Expert Network. Collaboration on HOPE facility development and Between Two Worlds expeditions.
• University of LadakhcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint organizer of Spaceward Bound India 2025 program along with a 1-day technical workshop on 'Terrestrial Analogues and Space Missions' at the university. Partnership provides academic credibility and student access.
• NASAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Spaceward Bound program originated at NASA Ames Research Center in 2007. NASA Astrobiology experts including Melissa Kirven-Brooks and David Grinspoon participate virtually in Spaceward Bound India 2025. NASA collaboration provides scientific credibility and connection to global space research.
• SIA-India (SatCom Industry Association-India)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024MoU signed during Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference (IPSEC) 2024 to promote astrobiology, planetary sciences, microgravity, and climate studies across universities and research institutes in India. SIA-India is a not-for-profit association representing the space and satellite industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation): HI-SEAS, run with NASA and University of Hawaii, conducts long-duration Mars and lunar-analogue isolation missions with crewed cohorts. Protoplanet's 10-day HOPE isolation mission and crewed expedition model mirror HI-SEAS's core analogue-mission format and target audience of researchers and aspiring astronauts.
• LunAres Research Station: LunAres operates a purpose-built, isolated analogue habitat in Poland running multi-day missions for international crews and scientific payloads. It is a direct functional peer to HOPE in terms of habitat-based crewed analogue missions and paid research access.
• Mars Society Australia: Mars Society Australia is a Flagship strategic partner of Protoplanet, with its president Dr Jonathan Clarke serving as a PEN mentor. It runs comparable Mars-analogue research, training and public-engagement programmes aimed at Australian and Asia-Pacific participants, making it the closest geographic and programmatic peer.
• Analog Astronaut Training Center: The Analog Astronaut Training Center (Poland) runs commercial analogue astronaut training programmes, suborbital and habitat research, and has an established international participant base. It competes with Protoplanet for the same audience of aspiring analogue astronauts and researchers seeking hands-on space-mission training.
• Mars Society: The Mars Society operates the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah and runs the global Spaceward Bound programme — the same lineage from which Protoplanet's Spaceward Bound India is descended. Both organizations run Mars-analogue field expeditions, train crew members, and pursue public-engagement missions to advance human Mars exploration.

Emerging players

• SpaceBase: SpaceBase is a New Zealand-based space education and consulting platform building capacity in emerging space nations. It overlaps with Protoplanet's University Space Training Programme and emerging-space-nation thesis, but focuses on the Pacific region rather than South Asia.

Others

• SIA-India (SatCom Industry Association-India): SIA-India is an existing MoU partner of Protoplanet promoting astrobiology, planetary sciences, microgravity and climate studies across Indian universities. It is a channel and ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, with a broader SatCom industry remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/protoplanet1
• Instagraminstagram.com/protoplanet.co
• Xx.com/teamprotoplanet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Protoplanet