India To Send Female Robot, ‘Vyommitra’ Into Space Under Gaganyaan Mission: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated on Saturday that India will launch a female robot named “Vyommitra” into space as part of the Gaganyaan mission, India's first human space flight project.

“Due to the pandemic, the Gaganyaan project was delayed. We are now organising the first experimental mission for the first or second week of October. It's just as important to bring the astronauts back as it is to send them,” Jitendra Singh told news station NDTV.

“The second mission will feature a female robot who will mimic all human activities." If everything goes as planned, we can proceed,” he continued.

In other Gaganyaan-related developments, the second crew module sub-assembly identified for uncrewed missions has been finished and delivered by the industry. The building of the orbital module preparation facility is also complete. The facility has been commissioned for test vehicle mission integration activities, and Gaganyaan launchpad enhancement works are currently underway.

Isro plans to conduct two unmanned missions carrying a humanoid dubbed “Vyommitra” before the final manned mission, which is expected to occur in 2024 or 2025. If the manned mission is successful, India will join the United States, Russia and China as the fourth nation in the world to have the capability to launch a human spaceflight mission.