New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch a female robot astronaut ‘Vyommitra’ before the Gaganyaan mission. The Gaganyaan mission is India’s first human-manned space flight, aiming to carry Indian astronauts into space.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology and Space, Jitendra Singh, revealed the timeline during a media interaction in New Delhi. He stated, “The uncrewed ‘Vyommitra’ mission is scheduled for the third quarter of this year, with the manned ‘Gaganyaan’ mission set to be launched in 2025.”
Named after two Sanskrit words, ‘Vyoma’ (meaning space) and ‘Mitra’ (meaning friend), Vyommitra is a female robot equipped with the capability to monitor module parameters, issue alerts, and execute life support operations. The robot can operate six panels and respond to queries, simulating human functions in the space environment.
Jitendra Singh highlighted that Vyommitra is designed to interact with the life support system, marking a significant step in India’s space exploration capabilities.
Singh also mentioned the successful completion of the Test Vehicle Flight TV D1 on October 21 last year. This test validated the crew escape system and parachute system, ensuring the human rating of the launch vehicle. All propulsion stages are qualified, and preparations for the Gaganyaan mission are on track.
The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate human space capabilities by launching a crew of astronauts into a 400-kilometre orbit and safely bringing them back to Earth, landing in India’s sea waters.
