New Delhi, Feb 5: Prior to India’s much-anticipated ‘Gaganyaan’ mission, the country’s woman robot astronaut ‘Vyommitra’ is slated to embark on an uncrewed space mission in the third quarter of this year. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh shared this announcement during a media interaction in New Delhi.
The manned ‘Gaganyaan’ mission, which will mark India’s first human-manned space flight, is scheduled for launch in 2025.
The name ‘Vyommitra’ is a combination of two Sanskrit words – ‘Vyoma’ (meaning Space) and ‘Mitra’ (meaning Friend).
According to the Minister, this female robot astronaut is designed with the ability to monitor module parameters, issue alerts, and perform life support operations. Capable of operating six panels and responding to queries, Vyommitra showcases advanced functionalities for space missions.
Dr. Jitendra Singh further detailed that the ‘Vyommitra’ astronaut is meticulously designed to simulate human functions in the space environment and interact with the life support system.
In preparation for India’s inaugural manned spaceflight, ‘Gaganyaan,’ the first Test Vehicle Flight TV D1 was successfully conducted on October 21 last year. This test aimed to validate the crew escape system and parachute system. The launch vehicle has been human-rated, with all propulsion stages qualified and preparations in order for the historic mission.
While the uncrewed robot flight ‘Vyommitra’ is scheduled for this year, the manned mission ‘Gaganyaan’ is set to launch next year. The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate human space capabilities by sending a crew of astronauts into a 400-kilometer orbit and safely returning them to Earth by landing in India’s sea waters.
Dr. Jitendra Singh revealed that Chandrayaan-3, which successfully landed on the South Pole of the Moon on August 23 last year, is progressing according to its anticipated course of action. The crucial data transmitted by the mission will be shared in due course.
