Aaka Space, an Indian space-tech startup, will soon run India’s first underwater astronaut training mission. The programme aims to prepare astronauts for microgravity tasks by simulating weightlessness under water. Training begins in mid-2026 at a coastal facility near Chennai, the company said. Underwater training is a low-cost, effective way to mimic some aspects of spaceflight. Divers and trainee astronauts wear neutral-buoyancy suits and perform tasks while suspended in water. This method helps them practice spacecraft repairs, tool handling, and body movement in three dimensions.
Aaka Space plans to train civilians, private astronauts, and mission specialists. The initial mission will involve a six-member crew, including two certified divers and four trainee crew members. Sessions will last up to four hours, with multiple dives over several weeks. Medical teams, safety divers, and remote monitoring systems will support each dive.
The startup expects this programme to lower training costs compared with overseas facilities. Typical international neutral-buoyancy training can cost tens of thousands of dollars per person; Aaka Space aims to offer competitive pricing in Indian rupees. The venture also plans to collaborate with Indian universities and research labs to develop custom training modules and study human performance underwater.
India’s space sector is rapidly opening to private players since recent policy changes. Companies like Aaka Space are expanding services beyond rockets and satellites into crew training, life-support testing, and mission simulations. If successful, this underwater training could become a key step for India’s growing private human-spaceflight ecosystem.
Aaka Space said further details on schedules, costs, and enrolment will be announced on its website and through press briefings in the coming months.
FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]
1. What is underwater astronaut training?
Underwater training uses neutral-buoyancy dives to simulate weightlessness, letting trainees practice movement, tool use, and repairs in a controlled environment.
2. Who can join Aaka Space’s mission?
The programme targets private astronauts, mission specialists, and trained civilians; selection will follow medical and skill assessments announced by Aaka Space.
3. Why use underwater training?
It’s cost-effective and realistic for microgravity tasks, improving coordination, safety procedures, and team performance before actual spaceflights.