Aditya Pandya, at the age of 17, achieved something most adults would dream of. He became India’s youngest male analogue astronaut after completing a simulated lunar habitat mission in Dholavira. A teenager, living inside a container-based habitat for eight days, cut off from the outside world, following strict mission rules. And on top of that, he helped design the technology keeping the crew alive. Sensors, IoT systems, and a digital twin of the habitat. He reportedly worked on all of them. Experts say this dual role of engineer and astronaut is rare, even for professionals. For India’s space ambitions, it feels like a glimpse of the future. Young minds are already shaping exploration.
Aditya Pandya: A 17-year-old boy becomes India’s youngest analogue astronaut
Aditya Pandya is a science enthusiast with astronomy as his passion. He defines his long-term goals in his LinkedIn profile as to mix science with entrepreneurship and skill-based learning. This embarks him as India’s youngest analogue astronaut, as reported by ANI. What makes Aditya stand out is that he wasn’t just a crew member. He reportedly spent six months developing hardware and IoT solutions that powered the habitat. Biometric tools, monitoring systems, and safety sensors, all designed by him. Some parts were 3D-printed. The digital twin allowed mission control to track performance in real time. Experts say few analogue astronauts get to test their own designs in a live mission. And he reportedly thrived under pressure, with people watching might have thought he was doing the work of a whole engineering team.
Aditya Pandya’s educational background
Aditya completed his 10+2 in PCM and has been deeply involved in science ever since. He’s passionate about astronomy, robotics, and practical learning. Beyond academics, he focuses on skill-based education rather than traditional degrees. He did his schooling at Asia English School with enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of astronomy. Reportedly organized multiple stargazing events and volunteered himself in the Blind People Association Ahemdabad. He further studied Generative Artificial Intelligence from the Indian Institute of Management, certifying data-driven business decision making, driving innovation, and empowering business growth. In addition, he also pursued BTech from the Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, in Computer Engineering.
Aditya Pandya’s experiences
Aditya co-founded IDEN Cards and INNOGINE, leading technology development, IoT integration, and skill-based learning initiatives. He has also volunteered to help create assistive technology for visually impaired people. With experience in public speaking, social media science communication, and robotics, he’s building a foundation for entrepreneurship. Experts say his blend of engineering, leadership, and communication is rare for someone under 18. He’s reportedly already making a mark in India’s space research community.
Aditya Pandya’s lunar habitat mission
The mission took place in the white plains of Dholavira, Kutch. Four crew members, including 17-year-old Aditya Pandya, lived together inside a container for eight days. With no outside contact and limited resources. The crew did experiments daily. They practiced “spacewalks” and followed strict routines. They tested systems for reliability. They studied how humans handle isolation. Aditya’s role made it special. He didn’t just live there. He reportedly helped build the sensors, biometric monitors, and hardware keeping the habitat running. So he was both an engineer and an astronaut. Experts say analogue missions like this help understand humans, machines, and teamwork under pressure.
