What exactly is BHEEM, India's concept for building homes on Mars?

The concept for B.H.E.E.M., short for the Bharatiya Expandable Extraterrestrial and Modular Habitat, was born out of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s academic research into how humans could live and work beyond Earth. Developed at the Aloke Lab at IISc Bengaluru, the concept uses 2.5-metre structural panels in triangular, square and pentagonal configurations that can be joined to build expandable living spaces. Inside, inflatable structures would create an airtight, pressurized habitat, with room underneath for environmental control and life-support systems. The modules can expand into living spaces, work areas and greenhouses, while offering more space when deployed and protection from radiation and other hazards. B.H.E.E.M. is still a research concept, not an announced mission, but it offers a glimpse at how India could approach long-term human habitation beyond Earth. Video edited using footage owned by Aloke Lab, Shubhanshu Shukla, NASA, and ESA.