Woman Robot Astronaut Vyommitra to Lead Gaganyaan Mission
Vyommitra, the humanoid robot astronaut, is scheduled for an uncrewed space mission preceding India's Gaganyaan, the nation's first manned space flight with Indian astronauts. Union Minister Jitendra Singh has announced that the Vyommitra Mission is set for the third quarter of this year, while the manned Gaganyaan mission is targeted for 2025. The name Vyommitra is a combination of two Sanskrit words, 'vyoma' signifying space, and 'mitra' representing friend.
Vyommitra, the humanoid robot astronaut, is poised to precede the Gaganyaan mission, India's first manned space flight with Indian astronauts, as announced by Union Minister Jitendra Singh. The uncrewed Vyommitra Mission is scheduled for the third quarter of this year, while the manned Gaganyaan mission is targeted for a 2025 launch. Designed to replicate human functions in space, Vyommitra can monitor module parameters, issue alerts, perform life-support operations, manage panels, and respond to queries.
In preparation for the Gaganyaan launch, the first test vehicle flight TV D1, certifying the crew escape and parachute systems, concluded on October 21, 2023. Progressing as anticipated, the Chandrayaan-3 Mission, which landed near the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023, is expected to provide crucial information soon.